Accounting at University of Alaska Southeast

At $16,000 in estimated debt for an associate's degree, this program appears manageable compared to similar accounting programs nationwide, which typically see graduates carrying closer to $19,000. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 suggests that if first-year earnings land near the estimated $37,000, graduates would owe less than half their annual salary—a workable starting point for entry-level accounting positions.

However, Alaska's accounting market tells a different story than national averages. Alaska Career College graduates report first-year earnings of $42,749, roughly $5,700 higher than what peer programs nationally suggest for UAS. Whether this gap reflects Alaska's higher cost of living, differences in employer networks, or simply variation in small program cohorts is unclear. What's certain is that accounting jobs in Alaska appear to pay better than the national baseline, and it's worth investigating whether UAS graduates access those higher-paying opportunities at similar rates.

The practical takeaway: This program's estimated debt load won't trap your child, but given the small sample sizes that required estimation here, connect with UAS directly about where recent graduates actually land jobs and what they earn. In Alaska's tight professional market, the school's employer relationships and internship pipeline may matter more than the credential itself.