Accountingat University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Graduates earn $74,731/yr in their first year — about 39.0% above the national Accounting average. Base-case 10-year earnings $836K; scenarios range from $703K to $893K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UIUC
The exceptional earnings for UIUC accounting graduates reflect a powerful combination of program reputation and strategic location. The Gies College of Business is a perennial target for major accounting firms, including the "Big Four," and large corporations across the Midwest, particularly those based in Chicago. This creates incredibly strong recruiting pipelines, often leading to coveted internship opportunities and full-time offers well before graduation. The rigorous curriculum not only prepares you thoroughly for the CPA exam but also hones the analytical and strategic thinking skills essential for navigating complex financial landscapes. Your career path might begin in audit, tax, or advisory, but the robust training quickly opens doors to corporate finance, risk management, or specialized consulting roles. To maximize your potential, actively pursue internships and cultivate strong communication and data analytics skills that extend beyond traditional accounting tasks.
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 UIUC'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 UIUC stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UIUC
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UIUC, 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 UIUC
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Accounting at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
This program scores 83/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Accounting nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Accounting careers?
With 62% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $703,150 in decade earnings vs $892,970 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Accounting program stand out?
Ranked #28 of 714 programs nationally, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.