Accounting Schools in Illinois

Illinois Accounting Schools

Illinois Board of Examiners1120 E. Diehl Road – Suite 110
Naperville, IL 83720-0002
Phone: 815-753-8900
Fax: 815-753-8953
Email: help@ilboa.org

For those who have a strong attention to detail, this may be the perfect opportunity for you to home in one your craft and put your love of numbers to the test. You will be able to help a number of those who are struggling to understand the financial components to their business model.

Accounting involves the interpretation, analysis and communication of important financial information. For those who are in the accounting program, you can expect to study managerial, financial and tax accounting, as well as various systems and auditing. Through the extensive curriculum, you will harness your skills in critical thinking, marketing, management, problem solving, technology and business law.

The professors are dedicated to teaching you about the fundamentals of the accounting practice, but you are also going to be encouraged to become an innovative problem solver. Many of the professors and teachers have served as chief financial officers, internal auditors and controllers for large corporations, so they are going to bring a tremendous amount of knowledge and expertise into the classroom.

Total Accounting Schools: 139
Total Accounting Students: 49,247
Average Tuition: $15,658
Average Scholarship Package: $5,695
Average Grant Amount: $8,100
Average Classroom Size: 17 Students
Online Accounting Programs: 88
Average Online Tuition: $14,492
Online Undergraduate Programs: 85
Online Graduate Programs: 36
Top Accounting Schools:Northwestern University
University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign
Illinois Wesleyan University
Largest Accounting School:University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign
• 6,921 Students Currently Attending
Cheapest Accounting School:Highland Community College
• $3,840 Annual Tuition Charges
School With Largest Financial Aid Packages:Northwestern University
• $27,129 Average Financial Aid Award

Salary and Job Outlook for Accountants in Illinois

As of May 2020, Illinois’ accountants earned an average salary of $71,270, while those at the top of the pay scale (90th percentile), who represent accountants who have climbed the career ladder through a combination of education, credentials, and experience, earned about $118,520. Expect the highest earners in the profession to hold advanced degrees like the master’s in accounting, top-level credentials like the CPA designation, and senior-level roles.

Note that the above salaries feature only base salaries and not salary incentives like bonuses and stock options that are regularly part of an accountant’s salary package, particularly among those in senior- and executive-level roles.

State-level data reveals that the number of accounting jobs in Illinois is projected to increase by 5% between 2018 and 2028, which is slightly higher than the national projected growth rate of 4% during this time. During the ten-year period leading to 2028, the state expects about 5,840 annual job openings in the accounting field due to a combination of new job growth, retirements, and natural job turnover.

Once you’ve earned an accounting degree, you’ll open yourself up to a nice array of possible accounting roles, including:

  • Cost Accounting – As a cost accountant, you will be responsible for determining and implementing all of the procedures and methods that relate to cost accounting. You will be the one responsible for preparing and analyzing cost reports for the corporation. Your main role is to help ensure all of the data is correctly allocated. It is imperative that you have an understanding of the procedures, concepts, and practices within the accounting field.
  • Accounting Director – Those who work in this field are responsible for the direction and oversight of one or all of the following functions: payroll, general accounting, and cost accounting. You will need to have at least 10 years of experience to hold this position. It is imperative that you are familiar with the practices, concepts and procedures that fall within the accounting realm. This role relies on judgment and experience for planning and accomplishing a set of goals. You will be responsible for leading and directing others in the field.

May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market data for accountants and auditors represents state data, not school-specific information.

Job growth projections for 2018-2028 sourced from the U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored O*Net database represents state data, not school-specific information.

Conditions in your area may vary. Data Accessed May 2021.