by our College Data Analytics Team
[Accounting](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/accounting/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 35 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying accounting schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send accounting graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in accounting, no school beat University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public school located in the city of Champaign. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $96,827.
Illinois Wesleyan University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in accounting, landing the #2 spot this year. Illinois Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bloomington. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Illinois Wesleyan University typically earn about $96,598 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in accounting will find them at College Of Dupage, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a public institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,149.
Bradley University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in accounting, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Bradley University make a median of around $86,572 per year.
Depaul University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Depaul University typically earn about $94,339 annually.
Elmhurst College earned the #6 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Elmhurst College make a median of around $86,907 per year.
University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #7 spot for accounting salaries this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public school located in the city of Chicago. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $79,937.
Northern Illinois University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a public institution. Accounting graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of about $85,759 a year early in their careers.
Augustana College Illinois earned the #9 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Augustana College Illinois is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rock Island. Early-career accounting graduates from Augustana College Illinois make a median of around $80,334 per year.
Rasmussen College Illinois earned the #10 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Rockford, Rasmussen College Illinois is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,198.
Illinois State University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Illinois State University is a public school located in the suburb of Normal. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Illinois State University typically earn about $84,768 annually.
Dominican University earned the #12 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $85,966.
Lewis And Clark Community College placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Located in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a public institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Lewis And Clark Community College typically earn about $42,502 annually.
North Central College came in at #14 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $79,216.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #15 spot for accounting salaries this year. Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Accounting graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of about $93,326 a year early in their careers.
Roosevelt University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Accounting graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of about $78,064 a year early in their careers.
Aurora University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Aurora University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. Accounting graduates of Aurora University earn a median of about $79,539 a year early in their careers.
Saint Xavier University came in at #18 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the accounting program here go on to a median salary of roughly $78,176.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale typically earn about $70,417 annually.
Eastern Illinois University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Eastern Illinois University is a public school located in the town of Charleston. Early-career accounting graduates from Eastern Illinois University make a median of around $79,045 per year.
Quincy University earned the #21 position for accounting graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Quincy, Quincy University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Quincy University typically earn about $59,610 annually.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for accounting. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Early-career accounting graduates from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville make a median of around $83,304 per year.
Benedictine University came in at #23 for accounting graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career accounting graduates from Benedictine University make a median of around $66,115 per year.
Olivet Nazarene University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying accounting schools. Olivet Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. Early-career accounting graduates from Olivet Nazarene University make a median of around $58,187 per year.
Mckendree University landed the #25 spot for accounting salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Lebanon, Mckendree University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, accounting degree recipients from Mckendree University typically earn about $60,209 annually.
These schools also send accounting graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries accounting graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 35 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.