Accounting at University of New Mexico-Los Alamos Campus

An estimated debt load of $15,979 for an associate's degree in accounting positions this program favorably below the national median of $19,354 for similar programs. Based on comparable two-year accounting programs nationwide, first-year earnings around $37,000 yield a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43—meaning graduates would dedicate less than half their first-year salary to clearing their debt. That's manageable, though it's worth noting that other accounting programs in New Mexico typically produce stronger outcomes, with the state median hitting $40,511 and debt loads averaging just $10,585.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With both earnings and debt figures estimated from peer programs rather than actual UNM-Los Alamos outcomes, you're making a decision without knowing how this specific campus's graduates fare in the Los Alamos job market. The low Pell grant rate (6%) suggests this campus serves a relatively affluent student body, but that tells you nothing about whether local employers value this credential or whether graduates stay in the area versus relocating for work.

For an accounting associate's degree, this program's estimated debt seems reasonable, but the earnings picture trails what's typical elsewhere in New Mexico. If your child has options at Central New Mexico Community College or other state programs with documented outcomes above $40,000, those represent safer bets with clearer track records.