Accounting at University of Akron Wayne College

Based on comparable accounting programs in Ohio, Wayne College's associate degree comes with estimated debt of $18,516—notably lower than the state median of $24,750 for similar programs. That lower debt burden matters when first-year earnings hover around $35,700, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52 that suggests manageable repayment. However, peer programs in the state show significant variation: Cuyahoga Community College graduates earn around $44,500, while this program tracks closer to the state median.

The challenge here is that we're working entirely with estimates derived from other Ohio programs since this specific program's graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to report. What we can say is that accounting associate degrees typically lead to immediate employment, and the estimated debt load here appears more reasonable than many alternatives. The national median for these programs sits at $37,000, so the Ohio estimate isn't out of line with broader patterns.

For parents weighing this investment, the lower estimated debt deserves serious consideration, but the wide range among Ohio schools—nearly $10,000 difference between top and middle performers—suggests program quality varies considerably. Without actual outcomes data for Wayne College specifically, you're essentially betting that this program performs near the state average rather than at either extreme. If your student can access one of the higher-earning programs nearby, that $8,000+ earnings difference compounds quickly over a career.