U.S. median for this major: $74,373.
College Scorecard field of study; 28 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 44% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $24,903.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $22,077. College Scorecard.
NSU Accounting: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Accounting nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses NSU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $10,762 | $48,214 | 1.5 years |
| $30–48k | $12,087 | $54,150 | 1.7 years |
| $48–75k | $15,293 | $68,513 | 2.2 years |
| $75–110k | $18,372 | $82,307 | 2.6 years |
| $110k+ | $17,933 | $80,340 | 2.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (32% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Accounting graduates 4 years after graduating ($67,072) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SD (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $31,275 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Accounting at South Dakota colleges
Every South Dakota college we cover that reports Accounting graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of South Dakota | $71,179 | $25,793 | $19,858 | 60% |
| 2 | University of Sioux Falls | $70,772 | $26,000 | $21,383 | 63% |
| 3 | Black Hills State University | $69,079 | — | $15,911 | 43% |
| 4 | Augustana University | $68,523 | — | $23,894 | 73% |
| 5 | Northern State University | $67,072 | $29,816 | $15,812 | 49% |
4 more South Dakota colleges offer Accounting but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Accounting graduates
Accountant / auditor
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Financial Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +9.7% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Financial and Investment Analysts
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +7.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at NSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About NSU
- Acceptance rate: 93% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 49% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $47,618
- Full cost breakdown · all 33 majors · overview
Related majors at NSU
- Finance$48,324
- Business Administration$56,571
- Marketing—
- Economics—
NSU Accounting questions
How much do NSU Accounting graduates earn?
Accounting graduates of Northern State University earn a median $67,072 four years after graduating and $51,239 one year after. The U.S. median for Accounting graduates across 741 colleges is $74,373.
How much debt do NSU Accounting graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Accounting graduates of Northern State University is $29,816, about 44% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,903.
Is NSU a good school for Accounting in South Dakota?
On pay, Accounting graduates of Northern State University earn $67,072 four years out, $2,007 below the median for the same major across 5 South Dakota colleges ($69,079) and $7,301 below the U.S. median ($74,373). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does NSU rank for Accounting in South Dakota?
Of 5 South Dakota colleges reporting Accounting graduate earnings, Northern State University ranks 5th. The highest is University of South Dakota at $71,179.
What jobs do Accounting graduates get?
A common career is accountant / auditor, with a median wage of $78,880 in South Dakota and $83,680 nationally. Others include financial managers and financial and investment analysts.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Northern State University Accounting: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/northern-state-university/majors/accounting (College Scorecard and BLS data).