Accountingat University of Illinois Chicago
Graduates earn $65,680/yr in their first year — about 22.0% above the national Accounting average. Base-case 10-year earnings $695K; scenarios range from $607K to $729K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Illinois Chicago
Graduates earn $65,680/yr, edging above the $53,724 national average for Accounting — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.
With a 12.1x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 17% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Accounting career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $18,050 in median debt against $65,680 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
University of Illinois Chicago ranks #129 among 714 Accounting programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.
The limited growth from $65,680 to $77,917 over five years suggests earnings in this field plateau relatively early in one's career.
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 University of Illinois Chicago'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 University of Illinois Chicago stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Illinois Chicago
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Illinois Chicago, 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 University of Illinois Chicago
What does a 78/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Accounting at University of Illinois Chicago?
At 78/100, 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 University of Illinois Chicago?
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.
Is University of Illinois Chicago one of the best schools for Accounting?
Among 714 Accounting programs, University of Illinois Chicago's #129 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.