Accounting at Vermont State University

Starting salaries of $41,488 place Vermont State's accounting program in the bottom tier nationally—5th percentile among Bachelor's accounting programs. This is particularly striking in Vermont, where graduates from Champlain and Saint Michael's earn $20,000 to $30,000 more in their first year. That gap matters: it's the difference between comfortably managing student loans and struggling with them.

Based on peer institutions, graduates likely carry around $23,000 in debt, which translates to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio on paper. But that calculation masks the real issue—the earnings themselves are far below what accounting graduates typically command. Nationally, the median first-year salary for this degree is $53,694; Vermont State's outcomes fall nearly $12,000 short. For a field with relatively standardized credentials and clear career paths, this kind of earnings gap suggests either weaker employer connections or graduates landing in lower-paying roles than their peers.

If your child is committed to accounting and Vermont State specifically, understand they'll likely start their career at a significant financial disadvantage compared to graduates from other Vermont programs. The debt load appears reasonable, but only because the earnings baseline is so low. Consider whether the lower admission standards and tuition justify accepting substantially reduced career prospects in a field where starting salary typically reflects long-term earning potential.