Accounting and Related Services at Western Technical College

La Crosse, WI · Public · Associate Degree

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 and Related Services — 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 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 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 and Related Services 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 and Related Services 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 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 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 and Related Services at Western Technical College?
A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Western Technical College's Accounting and Related Services graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
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 $447,071 in decade earnings vs $557,953 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Western Technical College one of the best schools for Accounting and Related Services?
Among 176 Accounting and Related Services programs, Western Technical College's #35 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Accounting and Related Services graduates?
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 →