Accounting and Related Services at Illinois College

Jacksonville, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
56 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
57
Optimistic
56
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $50,017/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)
ROI 3.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #649 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Accounting and Related Services graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $550K $542K $502K
Earnings Multiple 3.7x 3.6x 3.3x
Probability of Field Employment 76% 65% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 57 56 53

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$149,880
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$71,780
52% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,500
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,868
12% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $50,017/yr, roughly in line with the $53,724 national median for Accounting and Related Services. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

An earnings multiple of 3.6x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Accounting and Related Services's typical career paths, with 62% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,500 represents roughly 6 months of the $50,017 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #649 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs, Illinois College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $55,868 are relatively flat compared to the $50,017 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Illinois College

Illinois College accepts 75% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 925 students in Jacksonville, IL. The average net cost of $71,780 over four years represents a 52% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Illinois College →

Top Career Paths

Financial managers $161,700/yr
Financial risk specialists $106,000/yr
Financial and investment analysts $101,350/yr
View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Accounting and Related Services at Other Schools

Other Majors at Illinois College

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Accounting and Related Services at Illinois College?
This program scores 56/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Accounting and Related Services programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Accounting and Related Services careers?
With 62% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $501,757 in decade earnings vs $550,326 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Illinois College a hidden gem for Accounting and Related Services?
After financial aid, the average student pays $71,780 over four years — 52% below the $149,880 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →