Accounting at St. John Fisher University

St. John Fisher's accounting graduates carry manageable debt—just $27,000, lower than three-quarters of programs nationally—but the earnings trajectory tells a more complicated story. Starting at $54,178, graduates land right around the national median and actually outperform most New York accounting programs (60th percentile statewide). The 15% earnings growth over four years is solid, though the program remains well behind New York's top tier, where Fordham and Syracuse graduates earn $75,000+.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50 is reasonable for an accounting degree, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in roughly half a year's salary before taxes. However, the small sample size here matters: with fewer than 30 graduates reporting, a few outliers could skew these numbers significantly in either direction. The program serves a more economically diverse student body than many private universities (28% Pell recipients), which may partially explain the moderate debt levels.

For families prioritizing a solid return without excessive risk, this looks like a defensible choice—particularly for students who might struggle to gain admission to New York's elite programs. But if your child can get into a SUNY Binghamton or similar institution, the $12,000 higher starting salary there would close quickly with compound career growth. The key question: is the Fisher community and support structure worth potentially leaving earnings on the table?