Accounting at Strayer University-Pennsylvania

Strayer's accounting associate program carries estimated debt of $23,823—considerably higher than the $17,878 median for Pennsylvania accounting programs and above the national median of $19,354. With first-year earnings from comparable Pennsylvania programs around $37,705, you're looking at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63, meaning nearly two-thirds of a year's salary would go to paying off student loans. For a program serving primarily Pell-eligible students (68%), that debt burden matters significantly.

The earnings trajectory offers some reassurance. While first-year numbers align with state and national medians, graduates from similar programs see incomes rise to roughly $46,000 by year four—a meaningful increase that improves the debt picture over time. However, community colleges across Pennsylvania consistently produce accounting graduates with less debt for similar or better outcomes. Montgomery County Community College, for instance, reports first-year earnings of $48,832, while Harrisburg Area and Community College of Allegheny County both deliver outcomes near the state median with typically lower debt loads.

The core issue is straightforward: based on comparable programs, you're paying private school tuition for outcomes that Pennsylvania's community colleges routinely match or exceed. Unless Strayer offers unique scheduling flexibility or transfer advantages that justify the premium, the estimated numbers suggest your child could get equivalent accounting credentials elsewhere for $5,000-6,000 less in debt—a significant difference for a two-year degree.