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Accounting and Related Services at Illinois State University

Normal, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $62,940/yr (17% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)

ROI 11.4x earnings multiple (6.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #130 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs Top 25%

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	$773K	$733K	$633K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.1x	11.4x	9.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.9x	6.5x	5.6x
Probability of Field Employment	76%	65%	45%
DegreeOutlook Score	79	78	74

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$64,084

Out-of-state: $112,344 (6.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$75,984

-19% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,299

3.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$81,805

30% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $62,940/yr, edging above the $53,724 national average for Accounting and Related Services — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 11.4x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 62% task exposure — and the 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $20,299 in median debt against $62,940 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #130 out of 714 programs, Illinois State University's Accounting and Related Services program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $62,940 to $81,805 shows 30% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Illinois State University

Illinois State University has a 89% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving 18,414 students in Normal, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Illinois State University →

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 State University

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

How does Illinois State University's Accounting and Related Services program score?

A score of 78/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Illinois State University's Accounting and Related Services graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Accounting and Related Services to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Accounting and Related Services careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 62% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does Illinois State University rank so high for Accounting and Related Services?

The #130 ranking out of 714 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →