by our College Data Analytics Team
[Accounting](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/accounting/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong accounting education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 49 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value accounting schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in accounting, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Joliet Junior College, our #1 best value for accounting in Illinois. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $11,995. Early-career accounting graduates make about $40,118. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
Lewis And Clark Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in accounting, landing the #2 spot this year. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,340, with out-of-state students paying around $7,840. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the accounting program here. Accounting graduates of Lewis And Clark Community College earn a median of $42,502 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Lake Land College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in accounting, landing the #3 spot this year. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,415, while out-of-state students pay about $14,301. Students borrow a median of $7,769 to complete the accounting program here. Early-career accounting graduates make about $30,294. Set against $7,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Illinois Valley Community College earned it the #4 place for accounting. Located in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,200, while out-of-state students pay about $16,385. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $8,099. Early-career accounting graduates make about $33,224. That is a strong return on a $8,099 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Richland Community College earned it the #5 place for accounting. Richland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Decatur. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,680, with out-of-state students paying around $17,070. Students borrow a median of $9,562 to complete the accounting program here. Early-career accounting graduates make about $46,233. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Triton College came in at #6 for value in accounting this year. Set in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,070, with out-of-state students paying around $15,330. Accounting graduates carry a median of $12,994 in student loans. Early-career accounting graduates make about $43,278. Set against $12,994 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oakton Community College came in at #7 for value in accounting this year. Located in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,985, with out-of-state students paying around $12,462. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $7,750. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Oakton Community College generally make around $48,838. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elgin Community College landed the #8 spot for accounting value this year. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,252 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $7,727. Accounting graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,727 median debt.
Highland Community College Freeport landed the #9 spot for accounting value this year. Set in the rural area of Freeport, Highland Community College Freeport is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,936, while out-of-state students pay about $7,360. Accounting graduates carry a median of $13,783 in student loans. Accounting graduates of Highland Community College Freeport earn a median of $46,384 early in their careers. Set against $13,783 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage came in at #10 for value in accounting this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $17,284. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $50,250. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kaskaskia College earned the #11 position for value in accounting this year. Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Centralia. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800, while out-of-state students pay about $12,570. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $7,875. Accounting graduates of Kaskaskia College earn a median of $45,658 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,875 median debt.
Mchenry County College placed #12 among the best values for accounting. Mchenry County College is a large public school located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. Students from in state pay about $4,162 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,399. Students borrow a median of $7,440 to complete the accounting program here. Accounting graduates of Mchenry County College earn a median of $24,177 early in their careers. Set against $7,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value accounting schools. City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $8,093. Early-career accounting graduates make about $33,073. Set against $8,093 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College came in at #14 for value in accounting this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Students borrow a median of $11,533 to complete the accounting program here. Accounting graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College earn a median of $33,960 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #15 spot for accounting value this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete the accounting program here. Early-career accounting graduates make about $68,849. Set against $18,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College came in at #16 for value in accounting this year. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Accounting graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Early-career accounting graduates make about $33,326. Set against $7,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saint Xavier University placed #17 among the best values for accounting. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $38,945 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,326 to complete the accounting program here. Early-career accounting graduates make about $49,533. That is a strong return on a $23,326 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Springfield came in at #18 for value in accounting this year. Set in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,557 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,139. Accounting graduates carry a median of $24,117 in student loans. Accounting graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of $52,522 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Harper College came in at #19 for value in accounting this year. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,894, with out-of-state students paying around $11,874. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $10,963. Accounting graduates of Harper College earn a median of $31,747 early in their careers. Set against $10,963 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Illinois College placed #20 among the best values for accounting. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,230, with out-of-state students paying around $6,720. Accounting graduates carry a median of $10,388 in student loans. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $44,345. That is a strong return on a $10,388 median debt.
Dominican University earned the #21 position for value in accounting this year. Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. In-state tuition and fees average $38,828. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the accounting program here. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Dominican University generally make around $57,187. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #22 position for value in accounting this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the accounting program here. Accounting graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $74,731 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Eastern Illinois University came in at #23 for value in accounting this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,377, with out-of-state students paying around $15,859. Accounting graduates carry a median of $23,974 in student loans. Accounting graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $48,070 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,974 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University earned the #24 position for value in accounting this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the accounting program here. Accounting graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $67,610 early in their careers. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Governors State University placed #25 among the best values for accounting. Set in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,004. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $22,000. Early-career accounting graduates make about $47,836. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s accounting value ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 49 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 49 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.