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Accounting at Essex County College

Newark, NJ · Public · Associate Degree · Accounting and Related Services

serving 5,643 students in Newark, NJ.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $29,026 place Essex County College below the $35,807 national median for Accounting — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 41.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Accounting programs nationally.

The 38% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 62% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Accounting graduates.

Ranked #119 of 176 Accounting programs, Essex County College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $44,577 show a 54% jump from the $29,026 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

Accounting offers 5 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

59 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
50
Low End
59
Score
63
High End
Earnings $29,026/yr (-19% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (38% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$493K
11.3% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
46.1x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
13 of 14
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$10,692
Out-of-state: $18,636
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,577
54% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Accounting graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Financial managers $161,700 +14.8% 50%
Financial risk specialists $106,000 +6.5% 47%
Financial and investment analysts $101,350 +5.7% 54%
Financial managers
$161,700
+14.8% growth 50% AI-proof
Financial risk specialists
$106,000
+6.5% growth 47% AI-proof
Financial and investment analysts
$101,350
+5.7% growth 54% AI-proof

View all 14 career paths with full salary data →

Accounting Career Guide

Accounting opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Accounting career guide →

Compare & Explore

Accounting Overview

View all 176 schools offering Accounting →

Accounting at Other Schools

Austin Community College District ($62,261) Austin Community College District ($58,469) Cabrillo College ($57,294) College of DuPage ($52,724) Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion ($52,576) Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global ($52,576) North Hennepin Community College ($49,685) Montgomery County Community College ($48,832)

Other Majors at Essex County College

Nursing ($70,500) Practical Nursing ($62,448) Medical Assisting ($54,592) Ophthalmic & Optometric Services ($37,740) Business Administration ($32,638) Criminal Justice ($31,908) Liberal Arts & Humanities ($25,792) Teacher Education ($23,768)

Explore the Degree Alternative

Compare Accounting degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Accounting at Essex County College?
This program scores 59/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Accounting programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
What's the AI risk for Accounting graduates from Essex County College?
AI won't eliminate Accounting careers, but it may reshape them. At Essex County College, a score of 59/100 already accounts for the 62% task exposure — the ROI calculation factors in reduced employment probability.
Is Essex County College a good choice for Accounting despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Essex County College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Accounting graduates?
If Essex County College's tuition gives you pause, consider that 5 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Accounting. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
Is there demand for Accounting workers?
The career paths mapped to Accounting have roughly 451,900 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →