Accounting at Western Technical College

La Crosse, WI · Public · Associate Degree · Accounting and Related Services

with a smaller student body of 3,434 in La Crosse, WI.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $42,732/yr, edging above the $35,807 national average for Accounting — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 56.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Accounting programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Accounting's career paths, with 62% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 20% gap from the optimistic case.

At $13,980 in median debt against $42,732 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #35 of 176 nationally, this is a top-5% Accounting program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $42,732 to $53,540 over five years — a 25% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

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

71 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
64
Low End
71
Score
75
High End
Earnings $42,732/yr (19% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (38% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$558K
5.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
59.2x
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)
$9,432
Out-of-state: $13,818
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,980
3.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,540
25% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Accounting 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 →

Accounting Career Guide

See the full career breakdown for Accounting — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Western Technical College and 175 other schools.

Read the full Accounting career guide →

Compare & Explore

Accounting Overview

Accounting at Other Schools

Other Majors at Western Technical College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Accounting at Western Technical College?
A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Western Technical College's Accounting graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
What's the AI risk for Accounting graduates from Western Technical College?
AI exposure of 62% is a real factor. For Western Technical College specifically, the gap between optimistic ($557,953) and pessimistic ($447,071) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.
Is Western Technical College one of the best schools for Accounting?
Among 176 Accounting programs, Western Technical College's #35 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Accounting graduates?
Yes — 5 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Accounting career paths, including Accounting Technician (Alternate Title: Accounting Specialist). Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at Western Technical College.
Is there demand for Accounting workers?
The career paths mapped to Accounting have roughly 451,900 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →