Accounting at Regent University

Regent University's accounting graduates earn slightly above the Virginia median ($54,517 vs. $53,318), placing them around the 60th percentile statewide—but that advantage comes at a steep price. With $32,844 in median debt, students here borrow roughly $7,000 more than the state median, putting this program in the 12th percentile nationally for debt burden. That means 88% of accounting programs nationwide manage to send graduates out with less debt. The 0.60 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't alarming on its own, but it raises questions when you consider that public alternatives like George Mason ($67,291 in earnings) or Virginia Tech ($70,303) offer both higher earning potential and typically lower in-state tuition.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes these numbers particularly unreliable—a few outliers could dramatically shift the median in either direction. Still, the pattern is worth noting: students are paying private school prices for outcomes that barely exceed what Virginia's public universities deliver at a fraction of the cost. For families prioritizing Regent's Christian mission and community, that tradeoff might make sense. For those primarily seeking ROI, Virginia's public accounting programs appear to offer a stronger value proposition, with some delivering earnings 20-30% higher while likely requiring less borrowing.