Accounting at Rasmussen University-Wisconsin

Rasmussen's accounting certificate grads earn $47,506 their first year—50% more than the typical Wisconsin accounting certificate holder and nearly $10,000 above even Gateway Technical College, the state's second-best performer. This places the program in the 95th percentile both statewide and nationally, a rare achievement for an undergraduate certificate that usually sees more modest earnings outcomes.

The $13,047 in median debt is exactly on par with the national median, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.27—meaning graduates earn roughly four times what they owe. For comparison, the typical Wisconsin accounting certificate holder has similar debt but earns $16,000 less annually, making Rasmussen's version far more efficient at converting educational investment into income. With 57% of students receiving Pell grants, this isn't a program serving only affluent students either.

The major caveat: fewer than 30 students in this data cohort. Small samples can swing wildly based on just a few exceptional or struggling graduates, so these stellar numbers might not hold for every cohort. Still, outperforming every other Wisconsin accounting certificate program by such wide margins suggests something meaningful is happening here—whether that's superior curriculum, strong employer connections in the Green Bay area, or particularly career-focused students. For families considering accounting certificates in Wisconsin, this program warrants serious attention despite the data limitation.