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Cheapest Accounting and Related Services Colleges

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

Accounting education costs vary dramatically across American institutions, with some programs charging just $200 per year while others reach $5,202 annually. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College graduates earn the highest starting salaries at $50,105, nearly double the $25,967 earned by Universidad Central de Bayamon alumni. The accounting profession continues growing as businesses require financial expertise to navigate complex regulations and tax codes. Public institutions dominate the most affordable options, with eight of the top 10 cheapest programs offered by state schools. Puerto Rican institutions claim four spots among the most economical choices, reflecting the territory's commitment to accessible higher education. Graduation rates span from 20% at Ohio University-Eastern Campus to 72.10% at Baruch College, suggesting that program selectivity often correlates with completion success. The debt burden ranges from $10,715 to $25,500, with CUNY schools consistently producing graduates with lower loan balances.
50
Programs
$200 – $7,382
Net Price Range
$37,762
Avg. Program Earnings
41.4%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Accounting and Related Services Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $200 $2,340 30.1% 98.5%
2 $1,113 $6,627 95.7%
3 $2,446 $7,382 61.0% 47.9%
4 $2,879 $6,560 54.9%
5 $2,943 $7,452 56.6% 54.5%
6 $2,978 $7,464 72.1% 49.5%
7 $3,061 $7,846 48.9% 47.9%
8 $3,482 $7,410 49.3% 55.3%
9 $3,645 $7,630 62.0%
10 $3,659 $7,064 46.9% 89.1%
11 $3,830 $7,538 60.2% 69.5%
12 $4,285 $5,986 37.9% 80.4%
13 $4,496 $7,050 37.3% 90.1%
14 $4,503 $6,178 20.0%
15 $4,694 $3,283 29.6%
16 $4,704 $6,970 52.2%
17 $4,734 $7,358 30.3% 59.1%
18 $4,989 $7,050 23.6% 39.6%
19 $5,115 $7,490 32.8%
20 $5,202 $2,764 42.5%
21 $5,216 $6,400 32.6%
22 $5,328 $6,178 19.3%
23 $5,458 $3,148 26.8%
24 $5,732 $8,054 56.2%
25 $5,881 $7,352 22.3% 87.7%
26 $5,918 $7,675 54.7% 91.1%
27 $5,971 $6,178 17.7%
28 $6,007 $7,001 25.6% 45.0%
29 $6,133 $6,178 13.7%
30 $6,199 $6,863 39.8% 27.6%
31 $6,310 $5,966 62.5%
32 $6,351 $6,381 91.5% 23.4%
33 $6,352 $7,200 33.3% 74.2%
34 $6,392 $5,966 36.7%
35 $6,480 $6,980 54.8% 95.4%
36 $6,483 $6,178 12.1%
37 $6,500 $9,859 49.3% 87.7%
38 $6,507 $5,324 52.5% 51.6%
39 $6,680 $5,966 41.7%
40 $6,747 $8,147 52.2% 78.1%
41 $6,935 $2,336 31.4%
42 $7,075 $4,714
43 $7,131 $4,656 55.1% 95.6%
44 $7,168 $10,896 48.3% 86.0%
45 $7,201 $3,106 41.2%
46 $7,233 $6,960 31.0% 62.7%
47 $7,237 $3,412 48.1% 74.2%
48 $7,349 $14,776 16.0% 45.1%
49 $7,360 $3,969 35.2% 81.2%
50 $7,382 $5,542 38.4% 67.8%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Colegio Universitario de San Juan the cheapest accounting program?

This Puerto Rican public institution charges just $200 net annually with a 98.46% acceptance rate. Students pay only $2,340 for in-state tuition, making it accessible to nearly all applicants. The school maintains a 30.10% graduation rate, which reflects the open-access mission of serving varied student populations.

How do CUNY schools compare in accounting program value?

Four CUNY campuses rank among the most affordable options, with net costs between $2,446 and $3,830. Baruch College leads in graduate earnings at $50,105 while maintaining relatively low debt at $11,000. Hunter College offers strong value with $38,559 starting salaries and just $12,969 in average debt.

Is there a significant earnings gap between the most and least expensive programs?

Graduate salaries range from $25,967 at Universidad Central de Bayamon to $50,105 at CUNY Baruch College, nearly a $25,000 difference. Interestingly, several affordable CUNY schools produce higher-earning graduates than more expensive private institutions. This data suggests that program cost does not directly correlate with career earning potential.

Does program selectivity affect graduation rates in affordable accounting programs?

Acceptance rates vary from 47.86% at CUNY Hunter to 98.46% at Colegio Universitario de San Juan. Schools with lower acceptance rates typically show higher graduation rates, with Baruch College achieving 72.10% completion at 49.53% acceptance. Open-access institutions often struggle with retention, as evidenced by Ohio University-Eastern's 20% graduation rate.

Where can students find the lowest debt burdens for accounting degrees?

CUNY schools consistently produce graduates with debt under $15,000, led by Queens College at $10,822. EDP University of Puerto Rico charges $4,496 annually while maintaining just $10,715 in average debt. Texas institutions show higher debt loads, with Texas A&M-Central Texas averaging $23,450 despite low net costs.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.