Accounting (Associate's Degree) at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$42,427

Est. from WI median (11 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$15,949

Est. from WI median (10 programs)

Analysis

Similar accounting programs across Wisconsin's technical college system suggest first-year earnings around $42,400—right at the state median and well above the national benchmark of $37,000. The estimated debt load of roughly $16,000 appears manageable against this earning potential, with graduates needing less than five months of their first year's salary to cover what they borrowed. That 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio is considerably better than many associate degree programs.

The caveat worth noting: while peer accounting programs in Wisconsin cluster tightly around the $42,000-$45,000 range, four-year earnings data for this specific program dip to $36,890. This decline is unusual and hard to explain with estimated first-year figures. It could reflect graduates leaving accounting work, regional employment patterns unique to southwestern Wisconsin, or simply the noise that comes with small sample sizes. The comparison programs—Madison Area Technical College, Western Technical College, and others—all report first-year outcomes in a narrow band, which at least suggests some consistency statewide.

For families weighing this investment, the core numbers look reasonable: associate-level debt paired with mid-career accounting salaries that typically support comfortable living in smaller Wisconsin communities. The uncertainty lies in whether Southwest Wisconsin Tech's specific outcomes match its peer institutions or diverge in ways the available data can't reveal.

Where Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Stands

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

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College	—	$36,890	—
Waukesha County Technical College	$45,634	$48,300	+6%
Gateway Technical College	$42,427	$46,858	+10%
Rasmussen University-Wisconsin	$43,765	$44,358	+1%
Western Technical College	$42,732	$43,719	+2%

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Accounting associates's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (22 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Southwest Wisconsin Technical CollegeFennimore	$4,796	$42,427*	$36,890	$15,949*	—
Waukesha County Technical CollegePewaukee	$4,720	$45,634*	$48,300	$22,000*	0.48
Madison Area Technical CollegeMadison	$4,780	$45,333*	—	$20,252*	0.45
Rasmussen University-WisconsinGreen Bay	$11,982	$43,765*	$44,358	$23,823*	0.54
Western Technical CollegeLa Crosse	$4,716	$42,732*	$43,719	$16,796*	0.39
Moraine Park Technical CollegeFond du Lac	$4,713	$42,629*	$40,220	$16,027*	0.38
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 Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, approximately 20% 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 median of 11 similar programs in WI. Actual outcomes may vary.