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Accounting and Related Services at Western Illinois University

Macomb, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $49,900/yr (-7% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)

ROI 10.3x earnings multiple

Ranked #370 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs

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	$639K	$618K	$554K
Earnings Multiple	10.7x	10.3x	9.3x
Probability of Field Employment	76%	65%	45%
DegreeOutlook Score	71	69	66

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$59,808

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$46,368

22% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,627

5.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$65,058

30% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Western Illinois University's Accounting and Related Services program produces graduates earning $49,900/yr — within striking distance of the $53,724 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.3x 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 13% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $23,627 in median debt clears quickly against $49,900 in annual earnings.

Ranked #370 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs, Western Illinois University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $49,900 to $65,058 over five years — a 30% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Western Illinois University

A 75% acceptance rate means Western Illinois University is accessible to most applicants, a compact campus enrolling 4,939 students in Macomb, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Western 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 Western Illinois University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Accounting and Related Services at Western Illinois University?

This program scores 69/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Accounting and Related Services programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

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 $553,995 in decade earnings vs $639,199 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →