Accounting and Related Services at Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen

Harlingen, TX · Private for-profit · Certificate

a smaller institution with 437 students in Harlingen, TX.

Program Analysis

Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen's Accounting and Related Services graduates start at $22,081/yr, trailing the $35,807 national average by 38%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

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 18% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $8,507 in median debt clears fast against $22,081 in annual earnings.

Ranked #160 of 176 Accounting and Related Services programs, Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $22,081 to $27,062 over five years — a 23% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

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

52 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
45
Low End
52
Score
54
High End
Earnings $22,081/yr (-38% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (38% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$281K
5.2% annual growth
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.

Median Debt at Graduation
$8,507
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$27,062
23% 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 Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen

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 52/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Accounting and Related Services at Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen?
A score of 52/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen trails the majority of Accounting and Related Services programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Will AI affect Accounting and Related Services careers?
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.
Why are Accounting and Related Services earnings lower at Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen?
Starting salary is one data point. If Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Are there apprenticeship options for Accounting and Related Services?
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.
Is there demand for Accounting and Related Services workers?
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 →