Accounting at Strayer University-Arkansas

A debt load around $24,000 for an associate's degree in accounting is higher than typical—national figures for this credential suggest most programs produce around $19,000 in debt. Combined with first-year earnings that peer programs place at $37,000, you're looking at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64, which means roughly eight months of gross income would go to covering the debt. That's manageable but not exceptional for a two-year degree.

What helps here is the four-year earnings figure of $46,000, which shows actual income growth for this program's graduates. That trajectory matters because accounting skills tend to gain value with experience, and moving from $37,000 to $46,000 suggests the credential opens doors to better opportunities over time. With 93% of students receiving Pell grants, Strayer is clearly serving students who need accessible pathways to accounting careers, and the debt relative to eventual earnings doesn't appear crushing.

The uncertainty around these estimates—drawn from comparable accounting associate's programs nationally—means you'll want to understand Strayer's specific support for job placement and whether their Arkansas location connects effectively to Little Rock's accounting job market. For a field with clear professional pathways, the four-year earnings suggest this investment can work, but the higher-than-typical debt means your child should enter with a plan for steady employment post-graduation.