Accounting at Illinois College

Illinois College's accounting graduates start below both state and national medians, earning $50,017 in their first year compared to $54,694 statewide and $53,694 nationally. That 40th percentile ranking among Illinois accounting programs is particularly notable given the state's competitive accounting job market—top programs like UIUC and Illinois Wesleyan place graduates earning $70,000+. The $27,000 debt load is manageable but doesn't offset the earnings disadvantage: you're paying slightly more than the state median debt while earning less.

The 18% earnings growth to $58,913 by year four helps close the gap somewhat, though graduates still trail state and national benchmarks. The concerning element here is the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates means these numbers could swing significantly year to year, making it harder to predict your child's likely outcome. A few particularly successful or struggling graduates can dramatically shift the median when the cohort is this small.

For families considering this program, the key question is opportunity cost. At 75% admission rate, students likely have other Illinois options that show stronger earning trajectories. Unless there's a compelling reason to choose Illinois College specifically—geographic ties, financial aid package, or campus fit—the data suggests exploring programs that rank higher among the state's 42 accounting offerings would better position graduates in Illinois' accounting market.