Accounting Degree in Springfield, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Springfield, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$57K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$83K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.2 yrs
in Springfield
Cost of Living
92
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Springfield, IL Overview
Springfield, Illinois (pop. 114,394) has 9 colleges offering Accounting programs. The local cost of living index of 92 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $642/month. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Springfield is approximately $57,040.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$12,413/yr
Private Tuition
$27,201/yr
Room & Board
$13,584/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,401/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
61%
Accounting Salary in Springfield (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Springfield's cost of living index of 92 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Springfield adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Springfield
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Springfield tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,413 | Private avg: $27,201
Springfield avg aid: $7,401/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$103,988
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$24,840
vs HS diploma in Springfield
ROI Payback Period
4.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Springfield
$586,012
Lifetime earnings premium ($690,000) minus total education cost ($103,988)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Springfield
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Springfield for Accounting
University of Illinois Springfield
public
$12,413/yr
$49,652 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lincoln Land Community College
$4,980/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Springfield
Springfield offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Springfield Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby Illinois Cities
Chicago, IL
$68K starting · COL 109
98 colleges
Aurora, IL
$58K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Joliet, IL
$67K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$63K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$56K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Elgin, IL
$49K starting · COL 79
13 colleges
Peoria, IL
$64K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$56K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Business Majors in Springfield
Business Analytics
$72K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$64K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$60K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$46K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$46K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$46K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$46K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$53K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Springfield — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Accounting ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Springfield.