Accounting at Wake Technical Community College

Wake Technical's accounting associate program produces graduates earning $44,616 in their first year—nearly $8,000 above the national median for this degree and matching North Carolina's state median. With debt under $21,000, graduates start with a manageable debt load that represents just 47% of their first-year income, meaning most could realistically pay it off within a few years while living on the remainder.

The challenge here is the small sample size (fewer than 30 graduates tracked), which makes these numbers less reliable than data from larger programs. The slight earnings dip to $43,263 by year four could reflect the limitations of tracking so few people rather than a true program trend. Still, even that lower figure beats the national median handily and remains competitive with other North Carolina community colleges offering this degree.

For parents weighing community college accounting programs in the Raleigh area, Wake Tech offers solid earning potential at a reasonable cost. The debt-to-earnings ratio is among the best you'll find for associate degrees—graduates aren't starting their careers underwater. Just remember these specific numbers might shift with a larger dataset, though the program's fundamentals appear sound based on its competitive positioning both statewide and nationally.