What can you do with a Accounting degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?

First, some facts. Of the Accounting graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 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 15 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 69%, Accounting graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have a slightly higher likelihood (+2%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 69%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 73% 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:

View a random Accounting graduate from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and our analysis:


Relevance score: 50%

We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2015 from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Wealth Management Intern
China Galaxy Securities Co. Ltd
May 2015 - Jul 2015
The position as a Wealth Management Intern may involve some financial analysis and advisory skills that relate to accounting, but it primarily focuses on investment and wealth management practices that are not core qualifications of an accounting degree.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Masters Degree
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
2015 - 2016
ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Accounting degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When you look at the kinds of jobs people with an Accounting degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have taken on, you'll notice a pretty clear trend. A lot of them end up working as Financial Analysts, Auditors, or in various accounting roles like Staff or Senior Accountants. These positions, like the ones at KPMG and Crowe Horwath, typically require the application of accounting principles and skills right out of school, which is a good fit for their education. Many of these roles involve analyzing financial data, managing accounts, or working in tax and auditing, which directly tie back to what they learned during their degree program.

However, it’s not all straightforward accounting roles. There are also quite a few graduates who found themselves in positions that don't really emphasize their accounting education, like sales manager roles or process consultants. These jobs typically focus more on general management or process improvement rather than the hardcore accounting skills they studied. In general, while many graduates are working in fields where they can effectively apply their accounting knowledge, there is definitely a mix of roles that might not be directly related to accounting. So, while the degree opens up many relevant opportunities, it doesn't guarantee that every job will be tied to accounting practices. It's a mixed bag out there!

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 Urbana-Champaign):

What kind of career trajectories do Accounting graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When you look at the career paths of graduates from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with an accounting degree, it's pretty impressive overall! Many of them land their first jobs as financial analysts, tax staff, or in various auditing roles soon after graduation. For example, graduates from 2010 and 2013 jumped right into positions like financial analysts and tax interns, setting a strong foundation in the accounting and finance sectors. Even those who explored other areas, such as process consulting or wealth management, still maintained a connection to financial services or analytical roles, which speaks to the versatility of the degree.

Fast forward five to ten years, and you can see a solid upward trajectory for most of these professionals. Many have moved into managerial roles or senior positions in big companies, like KPMG, EY, and PwC. For example, a graduate from 2013 has worked their way up from an internal auditor to become a senior accounting analyst. It's clear that these alumni are not just finding jobs but building substantial careers that are relevant to their fields, with many still directly involving accounting and finance. So, if you're thinking about pursuing accounting at UIUC, you'll be in good company, and it seems like the degree opens a lot of great doors!

How hard is a Accounting degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is definitely on the challenging side, but it's not impossible! You’ll dive into some pretty intense coursework, including financial reporting, tax, and audit classes, which can be pretty demanding. The professors are knowledgeable and expect you to keep up, especially since the program is well-respected and has a lot of smart students in it. It might be a bit harder than a lot of other undergrad degrees, mainly because of the quantitative skills you’ll need and the detail-oriented nature of the material. But if you enjoy numbers and problem-solving, it can be rewarding as you go along! Just be ready to put in some serious study time.

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Accounting.

Do Accounting graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign tend to make good money?

Looking at these accounting graduates from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, it seems like they're generally doing pretty well for themselves in their careers, especially considering the strong foundation their degrees provided. Many of them started as interns or entry-level analysts and have progressed to managerial positions, with roles at reputable companies like KPMG, PwC, and various prominent firms. While we won’t know their exact salaries, typical accounting paths can lead to decent pay, especially in senior positions. It’s not uncommon for experienced professionals in this field to make six figures, especially as they climb the corporate ladder. So, overall, it looks like they’re on a good track for a comfortable lifestyle!

What buzzwords do Accounting graduates use to describe themselves?

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 Urbana-Champaign). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Accounting?

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:

College Score Count
University of Kentucky 98 12
Portland State University 96 14
Bentley University 94 10
Troy University 93 10
University of Florida 90 15
Weber State University 90 16
Temple University 89 10
Kansas State University 89 19
Western Illinois University 89 10
Baruch College 89 36
Wichita State University 89 11
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 89 17
Clemson University 87 17
Old Dominion University 87 10
University of Nevada-Las Vegas 87 12
Gonzaga University 87 11
San Diego State University 86 18
The University of Texas at Dallas 86 19
University of Maryland College Park 86 10
Saint Leo University 86 11
Grand Canyon University 85 11
The University of Alabama 85 18
The University of Kansas 85 12
The University of Texas at El Paso 85 16
California State University-Los Angeles 85 12
University of Houston-Clear Lake 85 11
Arizona State University - W. P. Carey School of Business 85 11
San Francisco State University 84 11
George Mason University 84 14
Central Connecticut State University 84 20
Florida International University 83 16
University of South Florida 83 19
Brigham Young University 83 25
Oregon State University 83 12
Robert Morris University 83 12
Rasmussen College 83 10
Penn State University 82 39
Louisiana State University 82 25
Oklahoma State University 82 21
Liberty University 81 17
University of Houston 81 17
San Diego State University-California State University 81 11
Metropolitan State University of Denver 81 11
Indiana Wesleyan University 81 17
Bryant University 81 10
Rutgers Business School 81 11
Florida State University 80 18
Colorado State University 80 13
North Carolina State University 80 11
California State University, Fresno 80 14
James Madison University 79 15
Brigham Young University - Idaho 79 18
California State University, Fullerton 79 15
Florida Atlantic University 79 27
Kennesaw State University 79 16
Northern Illinois University 79 21
California State University, Long Beach 79 12
Western Kentucky University 79 11
University of Alabama at Birmingham 79 15
University of North Alabama 79 11
Kennesaw State University - Michael J. Coles College of Business 79 15
The University of Texas at Austin - Red McCombs School of Business 79 10
Michigan State University 78 11
San Jose State University 78 22
California State University, Northridge 78 16
Mississippi State University 78 14
University of Nebraska at Omaha 78 11
Franklin University 78 20
University of Utah 77 13
Eastern Michigan University 77 15
University of Louisiana at Lafayette 77 11
Central Washington University 77 12
University at Albany, SUNY 77 11
University of St. Thomas 77 11
California State University-Sacramento 76 15
University of Mississippi 76 28
University of Illinois at Chicago 76 13
Northwood University 76 18
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 76 11
Texas A&M University 75 37
Texas State University 75 10
University of Houston, C.T. Bauer College of Business 75 17
State University of New York College at Old Westbury 75 14
University of North Texas 74 14
Towson University 74 18
DePaul University 74 14
Utah Valley University 74 16
Rowan University 74 17
Kean University 74 16
Rider University 74 13
The Ohio State University 73 12
Western Governors University 73 52
Western Michigan University 73 11
Boise State University 73 20
California State University-San Bernardino 73 16
The University of Memphis 73 15
Queens College 73 28
St. Cloud State University 73 10
Southern New Hampshire University 72 22
Iowa State University 72 12
The University of Texas at San Antonio 72 26
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 72 23
University of Central Florida 71 39
Youngstown State University 71 11
University of San Diego 71 12
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona 70 25
Sam Houston State University 70 23
Missouri State University 70 23
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 69 15
Washington State University 69 12
University at Buffalo 69 10
University of Alabama 69 13
The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business 69 15
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 68 13
Siena College 68 13
University of Washington 67 12
DeVry University 67 30
Ashford University 65 21
University of Houston-Downtown 65 18
Upper Iowa University 64 14
Nicholls State University 64 12
California State University-Long Beach 63 13
Auburn University 62 15
Georgia State University 62 13
University of Phoenix 61 113
Virginia Commonwealth University 61 13
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 61 12
East Carolina University 60 10
Wright State University 60 10
Colorado Technical University 59 19
Strayer University 59 32
Valdosta State University 56 10
Southern Connecticut State University 55 10
Kaplan University 52 20
Monroe College 40 11