<p>I think it really matters where you go to school. With accounting you can get a job at a Big 4 firm and you do not need to go to a TOP school to do this. You will start at around 55k+ in a big city. After 5years of work you will probably make manager and make around 85k. Then you use the resume power of Big 4 and transfer to industry into an executive position where you can make 125K+. The longer you stay in big 4, the greater exit opportunities you have and can land a job as a CFO for 200K+. All of this can be done with a degree from a good school. If you make partner (2% do) you can expect 300k on start and the highest paid partner make $1mil. </p>
<p>Finance has MUCH higher earning potential and bonuses alone will pay you an accountants salary. However, to break through to the high paying corporate finance jobs, IB, hedge funds, etcyou will need to go to a TOP school. The Ivies, Stern, and other highly ranked programs. Going to an average university is not going to open many doors unless you have connections. A finance degree with an average college will probably just land you a job working as a bank officer with career advancement potential but you are not going to be making a lot of money.</p>
<p>So in summary, finance degree at a great school = highest potential for $$$
Accounting degree from an average school = big 4 –> exit opportunities: 150~200k</p>