Accounting and Related Services at Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN · Public · Certificate

serving a student body of 54,926 in Indianapolis, IN.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $23,271/yr fall 35% below the $35,807 national median for Accounting and Related Services. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 73.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Accounting and Related Services programs nationally.

The 40% 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 and Related Services graduates.

At $8,500 in median debt against $23,271 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #96 of 176 Accounting and Related Services programs, Ivy Tech Community College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $38,525 show a 66% jump from the $23,271 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

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

62 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
52
Low End
62
Score
66
High End
Earnings $23,271/yr (-35% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (38% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$408K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
83.1x
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)
$4,912
Out-of-state: $9,465
Median Debt at Graduation
$8,500
4.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$38,525
66% 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

Other Majors at Ivy Tech Community College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 62/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Accounting and Related Services at Ivy Tech Community College?
This program scores 62/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Accounting and Related Services programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
How vulnerable is Accounting and Related Services to AI automation?
With 62% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $243,467 in decade earnings vs $408,376 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Why are Accounting and Related Services earnings lower at Ivy Tech Community College?
Starting salary is one data point. If Ivy Tech Community College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Can I learn Accounting and Related Services through an apprenticeship instead?
Yes — 5 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Accounting and Related Services career paths, including Accounting Technician (Alternate Title: Accounting Specialist). Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
How many job openings are there for Accounting and Related Services graduates?
With approximately 451,900 annual openings across mapped careers, Accounting and Related Services offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →