Accountingat Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Graduates earn $54,694/yr in their first year — about 2.0% above the national Accounting average. Base-case 10-year earnings $654K; scenarios range from $578K to $680K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's Accounting program produces graduates earning $54,694/yr — within striking distance of the $53,724 national average for this field.
With a 12.3x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 15% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Accounting career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $21,500 in median debt clears quickly against $54,694 in annual earnings.
A #223 ranking among 714 Accounting programs places Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
A 29% earnings increase from $54,694 to $70,417 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.
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 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale'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 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, 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 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
What does a 74/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Accounting at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
At 74/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Accounting at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
The 62% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.