Best colleges for Accounting and Related Services in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Wesleyan University and Loyola University Chicago are the top bachelor's Accounting and Related Services programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $74,731, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, DePaul University and University of Illinois Chicago award the most Accounting and Related Services degrees in Illinois: 292, 234 and 193 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 82 Illinois colleges offer Accounting and Related Services and award 3,154 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Accounting and Related Services program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of accounting principles and practices. This program is designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career in accounting, auditing, or…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,731 | 292 | 85% | — | $20,500 |
| 2 | Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $70,831 | 21 | 75% | $26,849 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $69,965 | 60 | 73% | $33,454 | $22,125 |
| 4 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $69,250 | 234 | 68% | $28,141 | $24,500 |
| 5 | Bradley University Peoria Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $65,842 | 23 | 76% | $21,768 | $26,925 |
| 6 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree | $65,680 | 193 | 62% | — | $18,750 |
| 7 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $63,743 | 117 | 49% | — | $18,500 |
| 8 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,940 | 161 | 65% | — | $22,482 |
| 9 | North Central College Naperville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $58,717 | 27 | 64% | $20,052 | $26,667 |
| 10 | Dominican University River Forest Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $57,187 | 35 | 55% | $16,176 | $26,000 |
Top 3 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey Public · Certificate | $42,502 | 31 | 44% | — | $9,500 |
| 2 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine Public · Certificate | $31,747 | 139 | 48% | — | — |
| 3 | College of DuPage Glen Ellyn Public · Certificate | $52,724 | 111 | 25% | — | $17,284 |
Colleges awarding the most Accounting and Related Services degrees in Illinois
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 292 | $74,731 |
| 2 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 234 | $69,250 |
| 3 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 193 | $65,680 |
| 4 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 161 | $62,940 |
| 5 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 117 | $63,743 |
| 6 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public | 68 | $49,046 |
| 7 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 60 | $69,965 |
| 8 | McHenry County College Crystal Lake Public | 55 | Not reported |
| 9 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public | 51 | $54,694 |
| 10 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public | 40 | $49,900 |
ShowHide the other 72 Illinois colleges offering Accounting and Related Services
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011).
Top skills
What Accountants and Auditors earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Accounting and Related Services programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Accounting and Related Services degrees?+
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (292 graduates a year), DePaul University (234 graduates a year) and University of Illinois Chicago (193 graduates a year) award the most Accounting and Related Services degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 82 Illinois colleges offer Accounting and Related Services.
What is the best college for Accounting and Related Services in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads among bachelor's Accounting and Related Services programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $74,731, College Scorecard. Illinois Wesleyan University and Loyola University Chicago follow. By degrees awarded, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the largest, with 292 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Accounting and Related Services program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tops the list at $74,731. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Accountants and Auditors earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Accountants and Auditors in Illinois is $88,910 (median $80,230), across about 54,930 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Accounting and Related Services program?+
The Accounting and Related Services program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of accounting principles and practices. This program is designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career in accounting, auditing, or…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Accountants and Auditors?+
The national job outlook is about +4.6% growth with around 124,200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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