Accounting at Western Illinois University

Western Illinois University's accounting program operates in a challenging middle ground. Starting salaries of $49,900 trail both the national median ($53,694) and Illinois state median ($54,694) by roughly $4,000-5,000. More concerning for in-state families: this places the program at just the 40th percentile among Illinois's 42 accounting programs, meaning 60% of comparable programs in the state produce better initial outcomes. The gap is stark when you look at top Illinois programs like U of I Urbana-Champaign ($74,731) or even mid-tier options like Bradley ($65,842).

The debt picture offers some relief—at $30,023, graduates borrow about $20,000 less than they'd accumulate at top-performing Illinois schools, and the manageable 0.60 debt-to-earnings ratio means students dedicate just over half their first-year salary to what they owe. Earnings do grow steadily to $60,157 by year four, a 21% increase that demonstrates the program builds solid accounting fundamentals. But that four-year mark still falls short of what peer programs deliver at graduation.

For families prioritizing affordability and comfortable debt loads, Western Illinois delivers a serviceable accounting credential without crushing financial pressure. However, if your student can access higher-ranked Illinois programs—particularly public options like U of I—the earnings premium would likely justify moderately higher debt over a career in accounting.