Accounting and Related Services at Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
81 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
83
Optimistic
81
Base Case
78
Pessimistic
Earnings $63,743/yr (19% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)
ROI 14.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #64 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Accounting and Related Services graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $788K $746K $642K
Earnings Multiple 15.5x 14.7x 12.6x
Probability of Field Employment 76% 65% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 83 81 78

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$50,800
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,636
-2% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,342
2.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$83,523
31% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $63,743 per year, Accounting and Related Services graduates from Northern Illinois University earn slightly above the $53,724 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Accounting and Related Services programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Accounting and Related Services's typical career paths, with 62% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 19% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $15,342 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #64 of 714 programs, Northern Illinois University's Accounting and Related Services program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $63,743 to $83,523 over five years — a 31% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Northern Illinois University

With 70% of applicants admitted, Northern Illinois University prioritizes broad access, serving 11,277 students in Dekalb, IL. Pell Grant recipients make up 46% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Northern Illinois University →

Top Career Paths

Financial managers $161,700/yr
Financial risk specialists $106,000/yr
Financial and investment analysts $101,350/yr
View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Accounting and Related Services at Other Schools

Other Majors at Northern Illinois University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Accounting and Related Services at Northern Illinois University?
This program scores 81/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Accounting and Related Services nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Accounting and Related Services careers?
With 62% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $641,633 in decade earnings vs $788,305 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →