Accounting and Related Services at Tidewater Community College

Norfolk, VA · Public · Associate Degree

serving 11,797 students in Norfolk, VA.

Program Analysis

At $29,056 per year, Accounting and Related Services graduates from Tidewater Community College earn below the $35,807 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The 39.7x 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 40% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

The median debt load of $12,599 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

At #120 out of 176 programs, Tidewater Community College's financial outcomes for Accounting and Related Services trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $29,056 to $46,559 over five years (60% increase) indicates that graduates in this trade see meaningful 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.

59 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
50
Low End
59
Score
63
High End
Earnings $29,056/yr (-19% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (38% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$510K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
44.6x
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)
$11,428
Out-of-state: $23,434
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,599
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,559
60% 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 Tidewater Community College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 59/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Accounting and Related Services at Tidewater Community College?
A score of 59/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Tidewater Community College trails the majority of Accounting and Related Services programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Should I worry about AI if I study Accounting and Related Services?
With 62% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $303,990 in decade earnings vs $509,898 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Accounting and Related Services from Tidewater Community College?
Starting salary is one data point. If Tidewater 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.
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 →