First, some facts. Of the Accounting graduates from University of Illinois at Chicago we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:
These are estimates based on AI analysis of 13 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 76%, Accounting graduates from University of Illinois at Chicago have a higher likelihood (+9%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, 38% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Accounting graduate.
See the details:
Relevance score: 84%We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2013 from University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration in Accounting. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONACCEL Business Banking AssociatePNC Aug 2013 - Aug 2014 Healthcare Banking Sales Associate PNC Aug 2014 - Apr 2015 Staff Accountant - Financial Reporting and Consolidations Ryan Specialty Group May 2015 - Sep 2016 Senior Financial Analyst - FP&A Ryan Specialty Group Sep 2016 - Oct 2019 Finance Manager - FP&A Ryan Specialty Group Oct 2019 - May 2021 Senior Manager - Strategic Planning & Execution Kemper Jun 2021 - Jul 2023 Director - Strategic Planning and Execution Kemper Jul 2023 - Apr 2024 Senior Director of FP&A SIAA Apr 2024 - Present ABOUTNo information provided. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
When looking at the careers of people who graduated from the Accounting program at the University of Illinois at Chicago, you'll notice a clear trend. Many have landed roles like Staff Accountants, Tax Staff Accountants, and various positions at firms like Marcum LLP and the National Futures Association. These positions directly use the knowledge and skills they gained from their degrees, which is pretty cool! For instance, jobs like Staff Accountants and Tax Consultants heavily rely on accounting principles, ensuring that graduates are right where they need to be in their careers.
However, not every job these graduates have taken is strictly related to accounting. Some have ventured into legal roles, compliance positions, and even banking jobs that don’t require a strong accounting foundation, even if they use some related skills. For example, roles like Associate Corporate Attorney or Underwriter have some connection to finance but aren’t central to accounting tasks. In general, while many graduates are working in jobs that align well with their degree, others are exploring different avenues that only partially involve accounting knowledge. So, it’s a mixed bag, but there’s still a strong core of accounting-related positions among these alumni!
Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Accounting graduates (this is across all Accounting graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of Illinois at Chicago):
Looking at the career trajectories of graduates from the University of Illinois at Chicago who studied Accounting, it seems like they generally start off in solid entry-level positions that are pretty relevant to their field. For their first jobs after graduation, many of them land roles like Staff Accountant, Tax Staff Accountant, or various positions in analysis and compliance. These initial jobs typically lead them to gain practical experience and professional development in accounting and finance-related areas.
Fast forward five to ten years, and you can see a clear pattern where many alumni are climbing the ranks within established firms or branching out into specialized roles. For instance, some have graduated to higher-level positions like Senior Manager or Director of FP&A, while others have shifted into legal roles or unique positions within financial organizations. Overall, the outcomes for these graduates seem positive, as a significant number have forged careers directly related to accounting, ranging from auditing and tax consulting to finance and compliance roles. While not everyone sticks strictly to traditional accounting paths, most have found ways to leverage their degrees into successful careers in the business world.
Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting at the University of Illinois at Chicago can be a pretty solid challenge, but it’s not impossible! Like most accounting programs, you’ll dive into some tough subjects like financial accounting, tax, and auditing, and there are definitely moments that can feel overwhelming, especially when dealing with complex numbers and regulations. That said, if you stay organized, manage your time well, and keep up with the coursework, you’ll probably find it manageable—kind of like a tough puzzle that gets easier the more you work on it. Overall, it’s a bit more demanding than some majors, but with the right effort, you can definitely handle it!
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Accounting.
Looking at the job trajectories of these University of Illinois at Chicago accounting grads, it seems like quite a few have found decent-paying gigs, especially those who landed roles at big firms like Deloitte and Wells Fargo or made their way up in companies like Marcum LLP. For instance, positions like Senior Manager and Director are typically associated with good salaries, so those folks are likely doing well. However, some of the more entry-level positions, like accounting clerks or assistants, probably don’t offer the same financial rewards right out of school. Overall, while there’s a mix of earnings here, many of these grads seem to be on a solid path to making good money in their careers.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Accounting (this is across all Accounting graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of Illinois at Chicago). This may or may not be useful:
Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Accounting (ordered by the average relevance score of their Accounting graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates: