Accounting at University of Maryland Global Campus

University of Maryland Global Campus's accounting program sits in an interesting position: it outperforms the national average by nearly $5,000 annually while carrying slightly higher debt, but falls short of Maryland's own accounting benchmarks. Among the state's 17 accounting programs, this one ranks in the 40th percentile—meaning Maryland graduates from other schools typically earn about $5,000-$10,000 more starting out.

The $26,930 in median debt is manageable with first-year earnings of $58,863, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 that's lower than most programs nationally. Strong earnings growth of 21% over four years suggests solid career trajectory, with graduates reaching $71,459 by year four. With a robust sample size, these numbers reliably reflect graduate outcomes.

For Maryland families, the calculation hinges on in-state alternatives. If your child can access University of Maryland-College Park or similar programs, those offer $10,000-$12,000 higher starting salaries for comparable debt. However, UMGC's flexible, online-focused format may appeal to non-traditional students or those balancing work and school. If the choice is between UMGC and an out-of-state private school at $50,000+ in debt, UMGC's conservative debt load makes it the smarter investment. The program delivers solid accounting credentials at a reasonable price—just not Maryland's best value in this field.