Accounting at Xavier University

Xavier's accounting program delivers solid returns with unusually manageable debt. Starting at $60,200, graduates earn 12% more than the national median and 7% more than Ohio's typical accounting grad. More impressive is the $27,000 median debt—$2,000 below the Ohio average and among the lowest quarter nationally. That 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than half their first-year salary, making the financial transition after college relatively comfortable.

Within Ohio's accounting landscape, Xavier holds its own against bigger names. While Case Western and Miami grads start about $7,500 higher, they typically carry significantly more debt. Xavier trails Ohio State by just $2,200 in starting salary while maintaining that debt advantage. The 20% earnings growth to $72,363 by year four suggests strong career progression, closing much of that gap with pricier alternatives.

The combination here is hard to beat: above-average earnings with below-average debt at a school with an 88% acceptance rate. For families concerned about both outcomes and accessibility, this represents a low-risk path into accounting. You're not paying for an elite credential, but you're getting professional-track results without the crushing debt that often comes with private universities.