Accounting at Waukesha County Technical College

Waukesha County Technical College's accounting program produces starting salaries of $45,634—substantially higher than the national median of $37,000 and placing graduates in the 95th percentile nationally. That's an impressive outcome that significantly outperforms most associate accounting programs across the country. Within Wisconsin, however, the picture is more nuanced: while Waukesha's graduates earn slightly more than the state median of $42,427, they rank in the 60th percentile among Wisconsin schools, suggesting this is simply a strong state for technical college accounting programs rather than Waukesha being exceptional within its region.

The debt load of $22,000 translates to a 0.48 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe less than half their first-year salary—a manageable burden for an associate degree. Earnings do grow to $48,300 by year four, though the 6% increase is modest. The more pressing concern is the small sample size: with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these numbers could shift significantly with just a handful of different outcomes.

For a Wisconsin family, this program offers solid value with quick entry into accounting work at above-average pay. The debt is reasonable, and the earning power exceeds what most associate accounting programs deliver nationally. Just recognize that several other Wisconsin technical colleges produce similar outcomes, so location and fit matter as much as the numbers.