Accounting and Related Services at Southeast Technical College

Sioux Falls, SD · Public · Associate Degree

with a smaller student body of 2,164 in Sioux Falls, SD.

Program Analysis

Southeast Technical College Accounting and Related Services graduates command $44,850/yr out of the gate, well above the $35,807 national median. That 25% premium suggests the program's industry reputation carries real labor-market weight.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 30.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Accounting and Related Services programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Accounting and Related Services's career paths, with 62% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $18,618 in median debt clears fast against $44,850 in annual earnings.

At #70 of 176 Accounting and Related Services programs, Southeast Technical College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

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

66 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
61
Low End
66
Score
68
High End
Earnings $44,850/yr (25% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (38% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$469K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
30.7x
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
$15,300
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,618
5.0 months of Year 1 earnings

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 Southeast Technical College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 66/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Accounting and Related Services at Southeast Technical College?
This program scores 66/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Accounting and Related Services graduates.
Should I worry about AI if I study Accounting and Related Services?
AI won't 'replace' Accounting and Related Services careers outright, but it is likely to reduce job openings. We model 62% task exposure, which compresses employment probability in our scenarios.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Accounting and Related Services graduates?
There are 5 registered apprenticeships connected to Accounting and Related Services occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Accounting and Related Services workers?
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 →