Accounting at Stetson University

Stetson's accounting program lands squarely in the middle of Florida's competitive landscape, with estimated first-year earnings around $51,800—below what University of Florida grads command ($65,144) but in line with the state median for accounting programs. The $23,250 in median debt is manageable, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45, which means graduates should be able to handle loan payments on a typical accounting salary. What complicates the picture is that four-year earnings barely budge to $53,588, suggesting either slow salary progression or perhaps graduates taking different career paths than initially planned.

The real question is whether Stetson's smaller program justifies its private-school cost structure when larger Florida publics—UNF, FAU, FSU—are producing accounting grads who earn more right out of the gate with similar or lower debt loads. Based on comparable programs statewide, Stetson graduates appear to be starting at roughly the same point as their peers across Florida, which puts them slightly behind the national median of $53,694. For a school with an 86% admission rate, that's neither a red flag nor a standout advantage.

If your child thrives in smaller settings and values Stetson's liberal arts emphasis, the numbers don't argue against it—the debt burden is reasonable for the field. But if maximizing early earning potential matters most, Florida's flagship public programs offer stronger financial trajectories in accounting with less financial risk.