ROI Major

Accounting and Related Services at Augsburg University

MN · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 52.03

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Accounting and Related Services degree from Augsburg University earn a median salary of $80,296 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in MN, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $85,331. The degree typically pays for itself in 4.9 years.

Quick Insights

Solid Investment

How this degree looks at a glance

A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$64,628

Typical Career

$80,296

Top Performers

$96,524

Estimated break-even: 4.9 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$535

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $6,691. Most students can comfortably afford about a $535 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 2.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.0x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Minnesota buys what costs $0.94 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 23.2%
Educational Services 16.0%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 10.5%

Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$85,331

Nominal: $80,296 in Minnesota (COL 94.1% of national avg) · 6.3% higher purchasing power

10-Year Earnings Curve

Break-Even Timeline

How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).

4.9 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

Total Investment

$155,168

4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost

HS Graduate Baseline

$38,792/yr

BLS 2023 median, HS diploma

View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
Timeframe 25th Pct. Median (50th) 75th Pct.
1 Year After Graduation $48,358 $61,474 $71,084
5 Years After Graduation $64,628 $80,296 $96,524
10 Years After Graduation $78,233 $104,032 $131,041

Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).

How We Calculate Purchasing Power

The median salary of $80,296 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in MN, which has a cost-of-living index of 94.1% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $80,296 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9410) = $85,331 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

Graduates from Augsburg University’s Accounting and Related Services program can expect a positive earnings trajectory. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $61,474, which increases to $80,296 after five years and reaches $104,032 after ten years. When considering purchasing power, the median earnings five years post-graduation, adjusted for cost of living differences, equate to approximately $85,330.5 nationally, indicating that graduates are likely to maintain a competitive financial standing relative to their peers across the country.

In terms of industry placement, graduates primarily enter sectors such as Health Care & Social Assistance (23.2%), Educational Services (16.0%), and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (10.5%). The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 4.9 years, suggesting a favorable return on investment for pursuing this degree. Overall, the combination of solid earnings potential and diverse employment opportunities in key industries supports a positive career outlook for students in this field.

AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.

Compare with Another School

See how the Accounting and Related Services degree at Augsburg University stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.

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