Accounting at Southern Utah University

Southern Utah University's accounting program stands out for one compelling reason: you're looking at just $10,550 in median debt—nearly 60% less than the national median and even lower than Utah's state median. That's the kind of financial foundation that lets graduates take entry-level accounting positions without the pressure of crushing loan payments eating into their modest starter salaries.

The earnings trajectory tells a more complicated story. First-year graduates earn $55,425, which beats the national median but trails Utah's median by about $2,700. Among Utah's 10 accounting programs, this lands in the 40th percentile—middle of the pack in a state where programs like BYU and Weber State push graduates into the $60,000-$68,000 range right out of school. By year four, earnings climb to $61,481, showing steady 11% growth but still not quite matching the state's typical accounting trajectory.

The trade-off here is straightforward: you're accepting somewhat lower earnings (compared to other Utah options) in exchange for dramatically lower debt. For a family concerned about minimizing financial risk, that 0.19 debt-to-earnings ratio is among the best you'll find for accounting programs nationwide. If your child plans to stay in Utah and work toward a CPA, they'll enter the profession on solid footing—just understand they're likely starting a few thousand behind peers from larger Utah programs, though with far less debt burden to offset that gap.