Accounting at Rasmussen University-North Dakota

Rasmussen's accounting program saddles students with nearly $40,000 in debt—almost 60% more than the typical North Dakota accounting graduate and among the highest debt loads nationally for this degree. First-year earnings of $53,285 lag behind North Dakota's median by about $2,200, placing graduates in the bottom half of state programs. While the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75 isn't catastrophic, you're paying premium prices for below-average outcomes in a state where University of North Dakota graduates earn $61,280 and carry significantly less debt.

The modest 5% earnings growth over four years means graduates don't quickly grow into their debt burden. Compare this to public alternatives: North Dakota State produces similar starting salaries with far less financial strain, and even Dickinson State—despite lower earnings—leaves students with more manageable debt loads. With 46% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are already financially stretched.

The bottom line: Unless location or scheduling constraints make Rasmussen your only option, North Dakota's public universities offer substantially better value for accounting students. The debt premium here doesn't translate into superior job placement or earnings potential, making this a difficult program to justify financially.