Accounting (Associate's Degree) at South Mountain Community College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$37,001

Est. from national median (118 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$15,979

Est. from national median (70 programs)

Analysis

An estimated $16,000 in debt for an associate's accounting degree is a manageable load, particularly when Arizona's robust accounting market typically supports entry-level earnings near $38,000. These figures, derived from comparable community college programs nationally, suggest a debt burden of roughly five months' salary—well within the range where repayment shouldn't derail other financial goals.

What works in this program's favor is Arizona's strong demand for accounting professionals and the credential's direct pathway to bookkeeping and junior accounting roles. Similar programs at Pima Community College, which reports actual outcomes around $37,400, demonstrate that Arizona employers actively hire associate-level accounting graduates. The estimated debt here runs about $2,500 below what's typical for accounting associate's programs in Arizona, which matters when you're launching a career.

The limitation is that we're working with estimates rather than South Mountain's actual graduate outcomes. If your child is serious about accounting, confirm current job placement rates directly with the program and ask about CPA exam prep support—many students use the associate's as a stepping stone toward a bachelor's and licensure. At this debt level and with Arizona's accounting job market, the downside risk appears limited even if actual outcomes vary somewhat from these peer-based projections.

Where South Mountain Community College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all accounting associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Arizona

Accounting associates's programs at peer institutions in Arizona (21 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
South Mountain Community CollegePhoenix	$2,358	$37,001*	—	$15,979*	—
University of Phoenix-ArizonaPhoenix	$9,552	$38,794*	$39,413	$24,793*	0.64
Pima Community CollegeTucson	$2,370	$37,358*	$34,454	$12,098*	0.32
National Median	—	$37,000*	—	$19,354*	0.52

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with accounting graduates

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial and Investment Analysts

Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Risk Specialists

Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Budget Analysts

Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.

$87,930/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Accountants and Auditors

Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.

$81,680/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents

Determine tax liability or collect taxes from individuals or business firms according to prescribed laws and regulations.

$59,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

Compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete. Perform any combination of routine calculating, posting, and verifying duties to obtain primary financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. May also check the accuracy of figures, calculations, and postings pertaining to business transactions recorded by other workers.

$49,210/yrJobs growth:Some college, no degree

Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks

Compile and record employee time and payroll data. May compute employees' time worked, production, and commission. May compute and post wages and deductions, or prepare paychecks.

$48,650/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At South Mountain Community College, approximately 27% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 118 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.