Accounting at Highland Community College

Comparable accounting programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $37,000, but that figure looks modest next to Illinois's state median of $45,770 for associate degree accounting graduates. Schools like College of DuPage and Rasmussen University-Illinois are placing their accounting graduates in the mid-$40,000s, which suggests Highland's program may face geographic or curricular challenges in connecting students to the stronger accounting opportunities available elsewhere in the state.

The estimated debt of roughly $16,000 is notably lower than both state and national medians, which offers some protection against the weaker earnings outlook. A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 based on peer programs means this investment could be manageable if actual outcomes align with estimates. Still, 30% of students here receive Pell grants, and for those families, the gap between what similar programs typically produce and what Illinois accounting graduates actually earn represents real money—potentially $8,000 or more annually.

Before committing, pin down where Highland's accounting graduates actually land. If they're finding work in the Freeport area rather than Chicago or suburban markets, that earnings gap makes sense but limits upward mobility. If the program struggles with job placement despite proximity to better markets, that's a different problem entirely. The lower debt estimate buys some margin for error, but Illinois has 44 accounting programs—make sure this one can compete.