Accounting and Related Services at Grand Rapids Community College

Grand Rapids, MI · Public · Associate Degree

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 and Related Services 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 and Related Services 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 and Related Services, 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 and Related Services 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 →

About Accounting and Related Services Careers

Your career will likely start in a role like a bookkeeping or accounting clerk, where your day-to-day involves using software like QuickBooks to reconcile bank statements, manage invoices, and process payroll for a small business or as part of a larger corporate team. You’ll be the person ensuring the financial data is accurate and organized.

Read the full Accounting and Related Services career guide →

Compare & Explore

Accounting and Related Services Overview

Accounting and Related Services at Other Schools

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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 and Related Services program score?
A score of 68/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Accounting and Related Services field.
How vulnerable is Accounting and Related Services to AI automation?
The 62% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
How affordable is Accounting and Related Services 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.
Can I learn Accounting and Related Services through an apprenticeship instead?
Accounting and Related Services connects to 5 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
How many job openings are there for Accounting and Related Services graduates?
The career paths mapped to Accounting and Related Services have roughly 451,900 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →