Accounting at Saint Ambrose University

Saint Ambrose's accounting graduates start at $56,691—above the national median but trailing most Iowa programs. While these earnings beat the typical accounting graduate nationally (61st percentile), they fall short within Iowa, landing at just the 40th percentile in a state where the median accounting program produces starting salaries of $59,252. That's a meaningful gap: graduates from Drake and Iowa start nearly $9,000 higher, and even programs like Wartburg and Loras deliver 8-9% better outcomes.

The debt picture offers some relief. At $26,559, borrowing sits right at the Iowa median and slightly above the national average, translating to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47. Earnings growth to $64,677 by year four shows decent progression—14% over four years—though this still leaves graduates trailing their in-state peers who started ahead.

For Iowa families, this comes down to price. Saint Ambrose delivers a solid accounting education with reasonable debt, but you're not getting the premium outcomes that top Iowa programs provide. If your child can attend for similar net cost to a state school, it's a reasonable choice. But if you're paying significantly more than you would at Iowa or Northern Iowa, you're essentially subsidizing a $5,000-9,000 annual earnings gap during those crucial early career years when every dollar counts toward building financial stability.