Accounting at University of Idaho

University of Idaho's accounting graduates start well behind their peers—the $40,001 first-year salary ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally and sits below Idaho's state median of $46,752. To put that in context, BYU-Idaho accounting grads earn $56,800 out of the gate, and even smaller Idaho programs like Lewis-Clark State come in higher. The slim $15,000 debt load is the silver lining here, ranking among the lowest nationally and keeping the debt-to-earnings ratio manageable at 0.37.

The 42% earnings jump to $56,714 by year four helps close the gap considerably, eventually bringing graduates above Idaho's state median. However, this pattern of playing catch-up means graduates spend their early career years earning less than they could elsewhere. With fewer than 30 graduates in this sample, these numbers may not fully represent the typical outcome, but the consistent underperformance relative to comparable Idaho programs is hard to ignore.

If your child is set on accounting and committed to University of Idaho, the low debt provides a safety net. But the starting salary gap suggests they'd likely be better served at Boise State or BYU-Idaho, where accounting graduates command $13,000-$17,000 more right away—a difference that compounds significantly over time.