Accounting at Southern Careers Institute-Austin

Southern Careers Institute-Austin's accounting certificate sits right at the Texas median for earnings but significantly underperforms national standards. While graduates earn $22,081 in their first year—matching the state average—this falls well short of the $31,684 national median for accounting certificates. Among Texas programs, this ranks at the 60th percentile, but nationally it's in just the 23rd percentile, meaning most accounting certificate programs elsewhere produce better outcomes.

The program's strength lies in its affordability and debt management. At $8,507 in median debt, students graduate with 35% less debt than the national average, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 that's quite manageable. This low debt load is crucial given the modest starting salaries. However, earnings growth is tepid—just 11% over four years brings graduates to $24,529, still far below what top Texas programs like Austin Community College ($62,261) and Dallas College ($39,308) achieve.

For families prioritizing minimal debt over earning potential, this program delivers on that promise. The 65% Pell grant recipient rate suggests it serves students who need affordable options. But if your child could access better-performing community college programs in Texas, those would provide substantially higher returns on investment while maintaining reasonable debt levels.