Accounting at Grand Rapids Community College

Grand Rapids, MI · Public · Associate Degree · Accounting and Related Services

serving 10,530 students in Grand Rapids, MI.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $35,538 track close to the $35,807 national median for Accounting programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 60.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI exposure is significant at 62% of job tasks, producing a 31% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

At $9,000 in median debt against $35,538 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #53 out of 176 programs, Grand Rapids Community College's Accounting offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $35,538 to $50,096 shows 41% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

With 5 registered apprenticeships mapped to Accounting, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

68 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
60
Low End
68
Score
72
High End
Earnings $35,538/yr (-1% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (38% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$539K
9.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
66.4x
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)
$8,118
Out-of-state: $23,718
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,000
3.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$50,096
41% 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

From day-one roles to senior positions, Accounting careers span a range of specializations. Read the complete outlook for graduates entering business & office.

Read the full Accounting career guide →

Compare & Explore

Accounting Overview

Accounting at Other Schools

Other Majors at Grand Rapids Community College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Grand Rapids Community College's Accounting program score?
A score of 68/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Accounting field.
What's the AI risk for Accounting graduates from Grand Rapids Community College?
With 62% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $371,806 in decade earnings vs $538,964 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
How affordable is Accounting at Grand Rapids Community College?
Median debt of just $9,000 against $35,538/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Are there apprenticeship options for Accounting?
There are 5 registered apprenticeships connected to Accounting occupations, such as Accounting Technician (Alternate Title: Accounting Specialist) and Accounting Technician (Alternate Title: Accounting Specialist, Payroll Assistant Specialist). The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Will Accounting graduates from Grand Rapids Community College find jobs?
Job availability for Accounting is strong — 451,900 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Grand Rapids Community College graduates specifically, local market conditions in MI may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →