Accountingat Illinois State University
Graduates earn $62,940/yr in their first year — about 17.0% above the national Accounting average. Base-case 10-year earnings $733K; scenarios range from $633K to $773K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Illinois State University
Graduates earn $62,940/yr, edging above the $53,724 national average for Accounting — 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 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.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Illinois State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Accounting
How Illinois State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Illinois State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Illinois State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Accounting offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Accounting trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Accounting at Illinois State University
How does Illinois State University's Accounting program score?
A score of 78/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Illinois State University's Accounting graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Accounting to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Accounting 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?
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.