Best Accounting Colleges in Illinois (2026)
Updated
Part of Best Business Colleges in Illinois
This page ranks the 32 colleges in Illinois that offer an Accounting program. Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Accounting graduates four years after completing, highest first.
Only schools with a reported Accounting earnings cohort in Illinois appear. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks 1st on this list, with a six-year completion rate of 85% and an average net price of $14,355.
Loyola University Chicago and Illinois Wesleyan University follow, with admission rates of 82% and 39% respectively.
The list includes 11 public institutions and 21 private nonprofit colleges, a public share of 34%. University of Illinois Springfield posts the lowest average net price on the page at $9,833.
University of Illinois Chicago ranks 17th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the best on this list.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Accounting Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL | $101,098 | $14,355 | $2,038 | 42.4% |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks 1st on this list and reports a six-year completion rate of 85%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Accounting and Related Services (353 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (301 graduates), Management Information Systems and Services (240 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Finance and Financial Management Services ($119,978), Management Information Systems and Services ($116,339), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($107,904) | |||||
| 2 | Loyola University Chicago · Chicago, IL | $97,667 | $36,079 | $28,992 | 81.6% |
| Loyola University Chicago, a private nonprofit university in Chicago, admits 82% of applicants and carries an average net price of $36,079. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Marketing (170 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (146 graduates), Business Administration, Management and Operations (121 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Management Information Systems and Services ($103,884), Accounting and Related Services ($97,667), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($89,745) | |||||
| 3 | Illinois Wesleyan University · Bloomington, IL | $97,022 | $28,199 | $17,732 | 39.3% |
| With an admission rate of 39%, Illinois Wesleyan University is the most selective school on the page. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business/Commerce, General (37 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (29 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (20 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Finance and Financial Management Services ($101,609), Accounting and Related Services ($97,022) | |||||
| 4 | DePaul University · Chicago, IL | $93,592 | $30,902 | $27,359 | 75.9% |
| DePaul University ranks 276th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and graduates 68% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Finance and Financial Management Services (247 graduates), Marketing (177 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (172 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Management Information Systems and Services ($94,197), Finance and Financial Management Services ($93,719), Accounting and Related Services ($93,592) | |||||
| 5 | Augustana College · Rock Island, IL | $91,143 | $22,736 | $15,787 | 62.7% |
| Augustana College posts an average net price of $15,787 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (51 graduates), Marketing (37 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (31 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($91,143), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($81,562) | |||||
| 6 | University of Illinois Chicago · Chicago, IL | $86,088 | $10,974 | $7,529 | 77.4% |
| University of Illinois Chicago holds the strongest Azimuth composite rank on this list, placing 17th among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Finance and Financial Management Services (274 graduates), Marketing (163 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (153 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($86,088), Finance and Financial Management Services ($83,218), Marketing ($71,293) | |||||
| 7 | Illinois State University · Normal, IL | $84,458 | $19,398 | $11,568 | 88.2% |
| Illinois State University admits 88% of applicants and reports an average net price of $19,398. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Marketing (243 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (161 graduates), Business Administration, Management and Operations (147 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Management Information Systems and Services ($95,120), Insurance ($94,124), Construction Management ($91,017) | |||||
| 8 | Northern Illinois University · Dekalb, IL | $83,573 | $13,391 | $10,126 | 69.8% |
| Northern Illinois University ranks 116th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and has a six-year completion rate of 49%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (149 graduates), Marketing (125 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (122 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Finance and Financial Management Services ($86,511), Accounting and Related Services ($83,573), Marketing ($76,373) | |||||
| 9 | Bradley University · Peoria, IL | $80,877 | $22,719 | $17,269 | 76.8% |
| Bradley University reports an average net price of $17,269 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (53 graduates), Marketing (44 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (38 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($80,877), Finance and Financial Management Services ($77,976), Marketing ($76,255) | |||||
| 10 | Benedictine University · Lisle, IL | $79,917 | $22,313 | $20,168 | 95.2% |
| Benedictine University admits 95% of applicants and graduates 50% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other (75 graduates), Business Administration, Management and Operations (45 graduates), Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (32 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Human Resources Management and Services ($90,891), Finance and Financial Management Services ($83,914), Accounting and Related Services ($79,917) | |||||
| 11 | Elmhurst University · Elmhurst, IL | $79,654 | $24,185 | $17,892 | 73.6% |
| Elmhurst University ranks 614th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and carries an average net price of $24,185. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (75 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (39 graduates), Marketing (29 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($79,654), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($76,678), Finance and Financial Management Services ($76,433) | |||||
| 12 | North Central College · Naperville, IL | $78,125 | $21,044 | $12,507 | 77.3% |
| North Central College posts an average net price of $12,507 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Marketing (43 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (37 graduates), Business Administration, Management and Operations (33 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Finance and Financial Management Services ($81,562), Accounting and Related Services ($78,125), Human Resources Management and Services ($71,555) | |||||
| 13 | Dominican University · River Forest, IL | $77,878 | $11,745 | $9,759 | 90.3% |
| Dominican University admits 90% of applicants and posts a six-year completion rate of 55%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (28 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (28 graduates), Marketing (19 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($77,878), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($66,871), Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations ($47,078) | |||||
| 14 | Olivet Nazarene University · Bourbonnais, IL | $77,132 | $20,729 | $17,232 | 55.9% |
| Olivet Nazarene University, a private nonprofit institution in Bourbonnais, reports an average net price of $20,729. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (59 graduates), Marketing (21 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (9 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations ($57,973), Marketing ($56,787) | |||||
| 15 | University of St Francis · Joliet, IL | $76,680 | $13,006 | $8,547 | 65.3% |
| University of St Francis ranks 331st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and graduates 67% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (17 graduates), Marketing (17 graduates), Human Resources Management and Services (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($68,599) | |||||
| 16 | Saint Xavier University · Chicago, IL | $75,023 | $10,970 | $7,572 | 84.3% |
| Saint Xavier University, a private nonprofit university in Chicago, has an admission rate of 84% and an average net price of $10,970. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business/Commerce, General (72 graduates), Marketing (35 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (27 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Finance and Financial Management Services ($75,180), Accounting and Related Services ($75,023), Business/Commerce, General ($65,447) | |||||
| 17 | Aurora University · Aurora, IL | $74,820 | $18,838 | $14,525 | 80.9% |
| Aurora University reports an average net price of $14,525 for families earning under $30,000 and ranks 17th on this list. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (159 graduates), Marketing (51 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (31 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($74,820), Marketing ($64,813), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($64,446) | |||||
| 18 | Lewis University · Romeoville, IL | $72,812 | $17,028 | $10,382 | 71.3% |
| Lewis University graduates 67% of its students within six years and ranks 629th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (99 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (29 graduates), Marketing (25 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Human Resources Management and Services ($76,485), Accounting and Related Services ($72,812), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($71,987) | |||||
| 19 | Western Illinois University · Macomb, IL | $71,059 | $12,937 | $6,941 | 71.2% |
| Western Illinois University reports an average net price of $6,941 for families earning under $30,000 and an admission rate of 71%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (73 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (37 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (19 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Construction Management ($85,974), Accounting and Related Services ($71,059), Human Resources Management and Services ($70,157) | |||||
| 20 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale · Carbondale, IL | $70,478 | $13,297 | $9,415 | 86.9% |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale admits 87% of applicants and posts a six-year completion rate of 62%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Accounting and Related Services (67 graduates), Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (35 graduates), Marketing (28 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations ($78,040), Accounting and Related Services ($70,478), Finance and Financial Management Services ($67,349) | |||||
| 21 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville · Edwardsville, IL | $69,610 | $14,889 | $8,483 | 97.5% |
| 21st on this list, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville reports an average net price of $14,889 and ranks 246th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (300 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (77 graduates), Construction Management (26 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($69,610), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($65,403) | |||||
| 22 | Northeastern Illinois University · Chicago, IL | $68,328 | $14,109 | $13,709 | 74.6% |
| Northeastern Illinois University graduates 22% of its students within six years and admits 75% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Accounting and Related Services (73 graduates), Business Administration, Management and Operations (60 graduates), Human Resources Management and Services (55 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations ($69,226), Marketing ($69,011), Accounting and Related Services ($68,328) | |||||
| 23 | Illinois College · Jacksonville, IL | $67,982 | $18,298 | $12,487 | 78.2% |
| Illinois College reports an average net price of $12,487 for families earning under $30,000 and ranks 23rd on this list. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (52 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (20 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (15 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($67,982) | |||||
| 24 | Eastern Illinois University · Charleston, IL | $66,840 | $12,786 | $9,828 | 65.4% |
| Eastern Illinois University admits 65% of applicants and posts a six-year completion rate of 47%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Marketing (31 graduates), Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (26 graduates), Business Administration, Management and Operations (22 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Finance and Financial Management Services ($70,704), Accounting and Related Services ($66,840), Marketing ($62,994) | |||||
| 25 | Monmouth College · Monmouth, IL | $66,326 | $17,133 | $12,483 | 90.9% |
| Monmouth College admits 91% of applicants and reports a six-year completion rate of 65%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (37 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (7 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations ($65,916) | |||||
| 26 | Roosevelt University · Chicago, IL | $65,839 | $20,194 | $18,018 | 97.2% |
| With an average net price of $18,018 for families earning under $30,000, Roosevelt University ranks 26th on this list. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business/Commerce, General (48 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (36 graduates), Hospitality Administration/Management (27 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business/Corporate Communications ($70,005), Finance and Financial Management Services ($69,720), Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($69,382) | |||||
| 27 | University of Illinois Springfield · Springfield, IL | $64,048 | $9,833 | $5,778 | 85.9% |
| University of Illinois Springfield carries the lowest average net price on the page at $9,833 and ranks 400th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (96 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (40 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($64,048), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($61,499) | |||||
| 28 | Trinity Christian College · Palos Heights, IL | $63,005 | $19,125 | $12,891 | 84.9% |
| Trinity Christian College graduates 58% of its students within six years and posts an admission rate of 85%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (6 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (6 graduates), Marketing (6 graduates) | |||||
| 29 | McKendree University · Lebanon, IL | $61,361 | $24,717 | $21,928 | 71.7% |
| A private nonprofit university in Lebanon, McKendree University reports an average net price of $24,717 and a six-year completion rate of 53%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (58 graduates), Marketing (21 graduates), Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($69,002), Marketing ($65,696), Human Resources Management and Services ($63,519) | |||||
| 30 | Governors State University · University Park, IL | $61,223 | $12,329 | $9,563 | 48.3% |
| Governors State University ranks 254th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and admits 48% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (87 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (48 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($61,223), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($59,562) | |||||
| 31 | Millikin University · Decatur, IL | $60,804 | $21,989 | $18,659 | 66.7% |
| Millikin University shows an average net price of $18,659 for families earning under $30,000 and a six-year completion rate of 55%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (36 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (13 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (8 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations ($71,489), Accounting and Related Services ($60,804) | |||||
| 32 | Quincy University · Quincy, IL | $55,610 | $20,359 | $16,502 | 50.9% |
| Quincy University admits 51% of applicants and ranks 1137th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (24 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (15 graduates), Marketing (11 graduates) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Accounting graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Accounting earnings cohort in Illinois appear. The figure reflects Accounting graduates in Illinois who were working and not enrolled four years after completing. It does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The list includes 11 public and 21 private nonprofit institutions.
Related rankings
- Best Colleges in Illinois
- Best Business Colleges in Florida by Earnings
- Best Business Colleges in Massachusetts
- Best Business Colleges in Indiana
- Best Business Colleges in Illinois
- Accounting Colleges in Illinois for Social Mobility
- Business Colleges in Illinois for Social Mobility