2027 Best Accounting Schools in Illinois
Accounting is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their accounting programs.
College Factual analyzed 49 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best accounting schools.
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Best Schools for Accounting in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall accounting education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Accounting
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign tops our 2027 ranking of the best accounting schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 292 accounting degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Accounting graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $74,731 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
See the full accounting program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
A rank of #2 makes Loyola University Chicago one of the top schools for accounting. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 60 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $71,441 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,125 to complete this degree.
Get the full accounting details for Loyola University Chicago
A rank of #3 makes Northern Illinois University one of the top schools for accounting. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 117 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Northern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $67,610 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
See the full accounting program report for Northern Illinois University
University Of Illinois At Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in accounting, ranking #4. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. There were roughly 193 accounting students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $68,849 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans.
See the full accounting program report for University Of Illinois At Chicago
Illinois State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in accounting, ranking #5. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Illinois State University awarded about 161 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $66,118 in their early career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $22,482 in student loans.
Read more about the accounting program at Illinois State University
Depaul University landed the #6 spot for accounting this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. Depaul University awarded about 234 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $70,916. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500.
Get the full accounting details for Depaul University
Elmhurst College earned the #7 position for accounting this year. Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elmhurst. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Elmhurst College awarded about 19 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Elmhurst College earn around $59,734 in the first couple years of their career. Elmhurst College graduates carry a median of $18,125 in student loans.
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Harper College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best accounting schools. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. Harper College awarded about 139 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Harper College earn around $31,747 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,963.
More information about a degree in accounting from Harper College
Illinois Wesleyan University placed #9 among the best accounting schools. Illinois Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bloomington. Illinois Wesleyan University graduates 75% of students within six years. About 21 accounting degrees were awarded at Illinois Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Illinois Wesleyan University generally make around $70,831. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full accounting program report for Illinois Wesleyan University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best accounting schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 68 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $55,669 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full accounting details for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Lewis And Clark Community College came in at #11 for accounting this year. Set in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 31 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Lewis And Clark Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $42,502 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree.
See the full accounting program report for Lewis And Clark Community College
Bradley University placed #12 among the best accounting schools. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Bradley University graduates 76% of students within six years. About 23 accounting degrees were awarded at Bradley University in the most recent year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $65,842 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,925 to complete this degree.
See the full accounting program report for Bradley University
North Central College came in at #13 for accounting this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Naperville. North Central College graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 accounting students who graduated with this degree at North Central College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from North Central College earn around $58,717 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,667.
Read more about the accounting program at North Central College
College Of Dupage ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best accounting schools. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. College Of Dupage awarded about 111 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $50,250 in their early career. College Of Dupage graduates carry a median of $17,284 in student loans.
See the full accounting program report for College Of Dupage
Joliet Junior College came in at #15 for accounting this year. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 18 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Joliet Junior College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. Typical student debt for the program is $11,995.
More information about a degree in accounting from Joliet Junior College
Lewis University earned the #16 position for accounting this year. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Lewis University graduates 67% of students within six years. There were roughly 32 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Lewis University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Lewis University earn around $47,616 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,162.
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Augustana College Illinois came in at #17 for accounting this year. Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rock Island. About 73% of students finish within six years. Augustana College Illinois awarded about 16 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Accounting graduates of Augustana College Illinois earn a median of $62,149 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full accounting program report for Augustana College Illinois
Oakton Community College came in at #18 for accounting this year. This large public university is located in the city of Des Plaines. About 30 accounting degrees were awarded at Oakton Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $48,838 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,750 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in accounting from Oakton Community College
Lake Land College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best accounting schools. Located in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 28 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Lake Land College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $30,294 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,769.
See the full accounting program report for Lake Land College
Elgin Community College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best accounting schools. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 23 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Elgin Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $43,975 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,727.
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Saint Xavier University came in at #21 for accounting this year. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Saint Xavier University graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Saint Xavier University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Saint Xavier University earn around $49,533 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,326 to complete this degree.
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Aurora University earned the #22 position for accounting this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Aurora. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Aurora University awarded about 25 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Aurora University earn around $57,745 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,452 to complete this degree.
See the full accounting program report for Aurora University
Benedictine University landed the #23 spot for accounting this year. Set in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 13 accounting students who graduated with this degree at Benedictine University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $54,328 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,325 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in accounting from Benedictine University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #24 position for accounting this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 51 accounting degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent year. Students who receive their accounting degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn around $58,531 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates carry a median of $23,251 in student loans.
Read more about the accounting program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Eastern Illinois University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best accounting schools. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. About 47% of students finish within six years. Eastern Illinois University awarded about 27 accounting degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the accounting program make about $48,070 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,974 to complete this degree.
Get the full accounting details for Eastern Illinois University
Rest of the Top 49 Accounting Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong accounting education:
View All Accounting Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 49 schools evaluated.
- 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 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.