Accounting at University of Alabama at Birmingham

UAB's accounting program costs students more than it should, particularly when compared to stronger options within Alabama. While graduates earn $51,640 in their first year—outpacing the state median of $47,089—they're carrying $34,288 in debt, significantly above both state and national medians. That 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic, but Auburn accounting graduates earn nearly $9,000 more annually while likely carrying similar debt loads, making UAB's value proposition harder to justify for in-state students.

The earnings trajectory raises another concern: four years out, graduates are only making $53,666, barely 4% above their starting salary. This sluggish growth pattern suggests the program may not be opening doors to the kind of career advancement that typically justifies accounting credentials. At the national level, UAB ranks in just the 41st percentile for earnings, meaning most accounting programs deliver better financial outcomes.

The relatively low debt percentile (9th nationally) might seem like good news, but it primarily reflects that UAB students are borrowing *more* than their peers elsewhere—not less. For Alabama families, the math is straightforward: unless there's a compelling geographic reason to stay in Birmingham, Auburn's program delivers substantially higher earnings that would offset any tuition difference. UAB accounting is passable, but it's not the value leader in a state where better alternatives exist.