Accounting at University of Missouri-St Louis

UMSL's accounting program punches above its weight for a regional public university with a 57% acceptance rate. Graduates start at $55,615—solidly above both Missouri's median ($50,218) and the national average ($53,694). Within Missouri's 33 accounting programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile, trailing flagship Mizzou and private Saint Louis University but outperforming many competitors at a fraction of the tuition cost.

The real advantage shows up in the debt numbers. At $21,300, students borrow about $4,000 less than typical Missouri accounting grads and $3,700 less than the national median. That translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.38—meaning graduates owe less than five months of their starting salary. Four years out, earnings grow to $65,154, putting these graduates on competitive footing with peers from more selective programs.

For parents weighing value, this is straightforward: solid earnings potential with manageable debt. UMSL won't impress recruiters the way Mizzou might, but the financial math makes sense, particularly for students planning to work in the St. Louis metro area where the university's local reputation carries weight. The moderate sample size suggests stable program outcomes rather than outlier results.