Accounting at Wilmington College

Wilmington College's accounting program delivers solid protection against debt—graduates leave owing $31,000, well below both the national median ($25,000 adjusted) and Ohio's typical $26,000—but the earnings tell a more complex story. While first-year salaries of $54,451 edge above the national median, they fall short of Ohio's $56,440 median, landing this program in just the 40th percentile statewide. For context, top Ohio accounting programs like Case Western Reserve and Miami University produce graduates earning $67,000+, nearly 25% more.

The fundamentals here aren't broken: the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57 is reasonable, and 8% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates are building careers, not stalling. But Ohio parents should recognize they're choosing a middle-of-the-pack option in a state with genuinely strong accounting programs. The $2,000 annual earnings gap compared to the state median compounds to roughly $80,000 over a 40-year career.

If your child is drawn to Wilmington's small-school environment and you're prioritizing debt management, this works—the loan burden is genuinely manageable. But if maximizing early career earnings matters, especially given Ohio's competitive job market, stronger in-state programs offer measurably better outcomes without necessarily requiring significantly more debt.