Accounting at Warner Pacific University

Warner Pacific's accounting graduates carry notably higher debt loads than typical—$42,765 versus $26,000 for Oregon accounting programs and $25,000 nationally. That's 95th percentile for debt, meaning very few accounting programs nationwide leave students owing this much. The first-year salary of $54,626 isn't terrible in absolute terms, but it falls below Oregon's median by nearly $2,000 and ranks in just the 40th percentile statewide. You're essentially getting below-average Oregon outcomes at well-above-average debt levels.

The trajectory does improve somewhat—earnings climb 12% to $61,317 by year four, which helps the debt burden look more manageable over time. However, you need to weigh this against the fact that Portland State, a public university in the same city, produces graduates earning $58,000+ from year one with far less debt. The nearly $43,000 in loans at Warner Pacific represents about 9.4 months of first-year salary, which is workable but tight for a field like accounting where job prospects are generally solid.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could shift significantly year to year. If Warner Pacific is offering your child substantial merit aid that would meaningfully reduce that debt load, the picture changes. Without that discount, you're paying premium prices for middle-tier outcomes in a state where better value exists.