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Most Popular Accounting Schools in Illinois

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2023 Most Popular Accounting Schools in Illinois

88 Colleges
$51,906 Avg Salary
$26,181 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Accounting School for You

Accounting is one of the most popular subjects to study in Illinois. With 3,151 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, it ranked 9th out of all the majors we track in the state.

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Most Popular Accounting Schools in Illinois ranking. This report analyzed 88 schools in Illinois to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Accounting program at each school on the list.

Check out the accounting programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in Illinois.

Our analysis found University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to be the most popular school for accounting students who want to pursue a degree in Illinois. Located in the small city of Champaign, UIUC is a public school with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, accounting graduates from UIUC carry an average student debt load of $18,854. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $318, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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The excellent programs at DeVry University - Illinois helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best accounting schools in Illinois. DeVry University - Illinois is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the city of Chicago.

While working on their degree, accounting majors at DeVry University - Illinois accumulate an average of around $44,354 in student debt.

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#3

DePaul University

Chicago, IL

Out of the 88 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, DePaul University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Chicago, DePaul is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that accounting majors at DePaul take out is $24,000. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $390.

Read full report on Accounting at DePaul University

Out of the 88 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois State University landed the # 4 spot on the list. Illinois State is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Normal.

After completing their degree, accounting graduates from Illinois State carry an average student debt load of $21,500. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $303, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Accounting at Illinois State University Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Accounting Schools in Illinois list. UIC is a very large public school located in the large city of Chicago.

Accounting majors at UIC take out an average of $18,500 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $240.

Read full report on Accounting at University of Illinois at Chicago

William Rainey Harper College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Accounting Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in the large suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a public college with a large student population.

Read full report on Accounting at William Rainey Harper College

Northern Illinois University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for accounting students. It came in at #7 on the list. NIU is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb.

Accounting majors at NIU take out an average of $19,379 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $177.

Read full report on Accounting at Northern Illinois University

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Accounting Schools in Illinois ranking. SIUC is a large public school located in the city of Carbondale.

The average amount in student loans that accounting majors at SIUC take out is $26,000. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $161, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Accounting at Southern Illinois University Carbondale Report

Loyola University Chicago ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Accounting Schools in Illinois list. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola Chicago is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

On average, accounting graduates from Loyola Chicago take out $25,000 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $629.

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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular accounting programs. SIUE is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville.

On average, accounting graduates from SIUE take out $20,936 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $204.

Read full report on Accounting at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

With a ranking of #11, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for accounting students. Northeastern Illinois University is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Chicago.

On average, accounting graduates from Northeastern Illinois University take out $16,146 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Accounting at Northeastern Illinois University

#12

College of DuPage

Glen Ellyn, IL

With a ranking of #12, College of DuPage did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for accounting students. Located in the large suburb of Glen Ellyn, COD is a public college with a very large student population.

Full Accounting at College of DuPage Report

#13

Bradley University

Peoria, IL

Bradley University ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Accounting Schools in Illinois list. Located in the midsize city of Peoria, Bradley is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.

While working on their degree, accounting majors at Bradley accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt.

Read full report on Accounting at Bradley University

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional popular schools for Accounting students in the state of Illinois that almost earned our Most Popular Accounting Schools in Illinois award.

Rank College Location
14 Western Illinois University Macomb, IL
15 Roosevelt University Chicago, IL
16 Governors State University University Park, IL
17 City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College Chicago, IL

Best Accounting Colleges in the Great Lakes Region

Explore all the Most Popular Accounting Schools in the Great Lakes Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Michigan 2,435
Ohio 3,278
Indiana 1,707
Wisconsin 1,606

One of 21 majors within the area of study, accounting has other similar majors worth exploring.

Majors Similar to Accounting

Related Major Annual Graduates
Business Administration & Management 416,590
Finance & Financial Management 57,778
General Business/Commerce 56,042
Marketing 52,916
Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods 43,382

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Pixabay.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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