Accountancy is a difficult field on its own, so it is important to select a good school with a reputation for professors that explain the concepts articulately, has an excellent pass rate and that is affordable, among other factors. Below, we have listed a few of the more prominent accounting schools in Illinois, as well as delineated some other important considerations to factor in when selecting where to study.

University of Notre Dame

The Notre Dame University’s Mendoza College of Business’s accountancy program is ranked fourth nationally according to the US Public Accounting Report. They offer both a BsC in Business-Accountancy, and a Master of Science in Accountancy. The program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools & Colleges (HLC) and Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB.) Their students are also able to participate in the Tax Assistance Program (TAP) to assist low-income individuals. It also serves as good experience towards their CPA work experience requirements.

Website: https://mendoza.nd.edu/research-faculty/academic-departments/accountancy/

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s (UIUC) Gies College of Business offers Accountancy degrees from a Bachelor’s right through to a Doctor of Philosophy in Accountancy. It is accredited by both the HLC and the AACSB.

Website: http://catalog.illinois.edu/degree-programs/

Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinoi University’s College of Business is located in DeKalb. It offers accountancy programs from the undergraduate level up to Master’s, as well as a Certificate of Graduate Study-Foundation of Accountancy. These programs are accredited by the HCL and the AACSB.

Website: https://www.cob.niu.edu/academics/accountancy/index.shtml

Bradley University

Located in Peoria, IL., Bradley University’s Foster College of Business offers two BSc of Accountancy options and two Masters of Accountancy options. Students are required to maintain a 2.0 GPA in all accounting courses beyond ATG 157, 158 and 201 to continue with the degree. It also has the highest CPA pass rate for all Illinois schools. These programs are accredited by the HLC and the AACSB.

Website: https://www.bradley.edu/academic/departments/atg/major/accounting/

Purdue University

Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management is located in West Lafayette. Offers accountancy programs from the undergraduate level up to doctorate. It is accredited by both the HLC and the AACSB.

Website: https://www.admissions.purdue.edu/majors/a-to-z/accounting.php

Illinois State University

Illinois State University (ISU) is a public institution in Normal. Its various BSc in Accounting programs and Master’s program are run through the ISU’s College of Business which is accredited by both the AACSB and the HLC.

Website: https://business.illinoisstate.edu/about/departments/accounting/

Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Chicago is a private, non-profit institution that issues its Accountancy degrees through its Quinlan Business School. It offers options up to Master’s level and is accredited by the AACSB and HCL.

Website: https://www.luc.edu/quinlan/academics/undergraduatedegrees/bba/bbainaccounting/

DePaul University

DePaul University’s Richard H. Driehaus College of Business is another private, non-profit institution located in Chicago. It offers internal auditing and standard track options, as well as a combined bachelor’s and master’s option. Courses can be taken either in-person or online. All of their accountancy programs are accredited by the AACSB and HCL.

Website: https://www.depaul.edu/academics/undergraduate/majors/Pages/accountancy.aspx

Illinois Wesleyan University

Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) offers a course option that enables their students to meet the 150-credit requirement to sit either the CMA or CPA exam by the end of their four-year Accounting program. They also offer a winter internship program, mentor program and have an accounting society. It is accredited by the HCL only.

Website: https://www.iwu.edu/accounting/

Augustana College

Augustana College is a private, non-profit institution located in Rock Island that offers two accountancy options, namely a BSC in Accountancy or the course as a minor with a certificate in accounting. The institution is accredited by the HCL only.

Website: https://www.augustana.edu/academics/areas-of-study/accounting

Factors to Consider When Choosing an Accounting School in Texas:

  • Does the institution offer opportunities for networking for internships and job opportunities?
    • For instance, UT, A&M, Texas Tech and Baylor and others are usually visited by recruiters from the Big Four.
  • Do they have a good tutoring system and approachable professors?
  • Is the course-load manageable?
  • What are the accounting and financial students average pass rates and grades like relative to the rest of the state’s?
  • Are there student organizations for accounting students?

Other Basics to Bear in Mind When Choosing an Accounting School in Texas

When planning on attending an accounting school to earn a degree in Accounting, it is a good idea to verify that their program meets the state board’s CPA educational requirements, including both the course requirements and the institutional requirements in case you choose to pursue a CPA license at a later date. Alternatively, it is advisable to attend one of them because they will be more favored by potential employers when the credentials appear on your resume than if you were to go to a non-regionally accredited institution, as the chances are the potential employer would not have heard of them.

For the Illinois Board of Examiners this means fulfilling one of the three following educational routes:

  1. A graduate degree in accounting from an institution accredited through CHEA and either AACSB or ACBSP. There are no specific accounting or educational requirements for this option.
  2. A graduate degree in Business from an institution accredited through CHEA and either AACSB or ACBSP. There are no specific accounting or educational requirements for this option.
    1. Accounting – 30 semester hours, including:
  1. Managerial Accounting
  2. Taxation
  3. Financial Accounting
  4. Audit
  5. Research & Analysis (at least 2 hours)
  1. Business – no specific requirements
  2. Any bachelor’s degree along with the following course requirements:
    1. Accounting – 30 credit hours, including:
  1. Managerial Accounting
  2. Taxation
  3. Financial Accounting
  4. Audit
  5. Research & Analysis (at least 2 hours)
  6. Business – 24 credit hours, including:
  1. Business Communication (at least 2 hours)
  2. Business Ethics (at least 3 hours)

These must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university, according to the requirements stipulated above.

A list of Illinois universities and their acceptance and pass rates, as well as annual cost, can be found here.