Is an Accounting Degree Worth It in 2027? What the Data Shows

For a lot of people, yes. But it depends on what you pay and what you want your days to look like. Accountants and auditors had a median wage of $83,680 in May 2025, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects 5 percent job growth through 2035.

The bachelor’s programs we list have a median total tuition of $54,360, so the school you pick and the job you aim for both matter.

What Do Accountants Earn?

Here’s what BLS reports for accountants and auditors across the country, from May 2025:

That’s a wide spread, and the middle is solid. Where you live moves it. The median was $97,050 in California, $74,880 in Alabama and $66,330 in Arkansas. Your employer and your role change it too.

Related jobs pay differently. Financial managers had a median of $166,570, but you’ll usually need five years or more of experience in another business or financial job first. Bookkeeping clerks had a median of $50,670, and you don’t need a degree for most of those jobs.

What Is the Job Outlook?

BLS projects 5 percent growth for accountants and auditors from 2025 to 2035. That’s faster than the average for all jobs. It also expects about 115,300 openings a year, and it counted about 1.6 million jobs in 2025.

So you’re looking at steady demand, not a boom. There’s usually room for you if you’re willing to start in an entry-level role.

The outlook changes by role. BLS expects bookkeeping clerk jobs to shrink 6 percent, which it ties to automation. It expects financial analysts to grow 7 percent and financial managers 10 percent.

What Does the Degree Cost?

Check the school’s price, not just its name. Our 100 bachelor’s programs run from $275.65 to $1,325 per credit, for the programs that list a price. The median is $447 per credit, and the median total tuition is $54,360.

Here’s one example:

• Colorado State University Global’s bachelor’s in accounting is 120 credits at $385 per credit, so you’d pay $46,200 in tuition.

If you’re headed for a master’s, our 50 master’s programs have a median of $930 per credit. Median total tuition is $28,320. Fees and books come on top of tuition either way.

You’ve got ways to bring the bill down. Our cheapest accounting degrees list sorts by price. Our public university list shows programs from public schools, which offer 115 of our 150 ranked bachelor’s and master’s programs.

What Do Graduates Actually Do?

BLS describes the daily work like this. You’d check financial statements for accuracy and legal compliance, work out taxes and prepare returns, and keep financial records in order. You’d also look at accounting systems for efficiency and fraud risk, and suggest ways to cut costs.

BLS says entry-level public accountants can move up to senior positions as they gain experience. From there you could become a supervisor, manager or partner, or open your own firm. Management accountants often start as cost accountants, junior internal auditors or trainees, and some work up to controller or chief financial officer.

Those paths are real, but they take years. The degree gets you in the door. What you do after that decides how far you go.

How Do You Check the Numbers for Your Own Case?

National medians are only a starting point. To see if the degree works for you, plug in your own details:

• Your state’s median wage for the job you want. BLS publishes state tables.
• The total tuition at each school you’re considering, with fees.
• The credits you can transfer, since they lower the total.
• Whether your employer helps with tuition.
• The time you’ll spend, and what you’ll give up to study.

Write those down for two or three schools and compare them side by side. A degree with $33,078 in total tuition is a different decision from one at $54,360, even if the job is the same.

How Does Transfer Credit Change the Math?

Transfer credit can save you money and time. Among our bachelor’s programs, 12 state a transfer limit, and 7 of those cap it at 90 credits. Ten programs across our picks say they’ll accept credit for prior learning.

If you already have college credit, you may not need to pay for all 120 credits. Ask each school for a written credit evaluation before you commit.

How Long Does It Take?

A bachelor’s degree is usually 120 credits. Six of our bachelor’s programs use 8-week terms, and some start a new term every month, so you can pick your own pace.

If you want a certified public accountant (CPA) license, plan for more. The traditional route is 150 semester hours, which is 30 more than a usual four-year degree. Many states also offer a bachelor’s plus experience path now. A master’s in accounting is one way to reach 150. Our CPA requirements guide shows you how to check your state.

You don’t need the license for most accounting jobs. But BLS says any accountant who files a report with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has to be a licensed CPA. It adds that certification gives you an edge in the job market.

What Are the Downsides?

Busy seasons come first. BLS says you’ll work longer stretches at certain times of year, like quarterly audits or tax season.

Pay can start modest. The lowest 10 percent of accountants and auditors earned less than $56,020, so you might spend a few years building experience before you reach the median.

The degree is also a real commitment. Median tuition on our list is $54,360, and you may need more credits if you want a license.

Then there’s automation. BLS expects a 6 percent drop in bookkeeping clerk jobs. A degree can move you into higher-level roles, but the work keeps changing, so plan on learning as you go.

Who Is the Degree a Good Fit For?

It tends to suit you if you like structure, enjoy tracking down why numbers don’t match and can handle deadline pressure. It also works if you want lots of possible employers, since the degree leads to public accounting, corporate jobs and more.

It’s a weaker fit if you dislike detailed, repetitive checking. The same goes if you want pay that rides on sales or market swings.

Not sure yet? Try a small test. Take an intro accounting course or work through a free tax or bookkeeping tutorial, and see if you like it. You can also compare the field with finance in our accounting vs. finance guide.

How Do You Lower the Risk?

1. Compare per-credit prices and total tuition at several schools.
2. Ask about transfer credit before you apply.
3. Make sure the business school is accredited. We check accreditation from three bodies. They are the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). We check each against the official lists.
4. Start with a job you can get now, like a clerk or payroll role. Our guide to entry-level accounting jobs lists options.
5. Read your state’s CPA rules if you want a license.

If the numbers still feel tight, a certificate or a few courses might be a better first step. Take a look at our accounting certificate guide, then compare programs on our bachelor’s list.