Accounting at William Rainey Harper College

Palatine, IL · Public · Certificate · Accounting and Related Services

serving 8,815 students in Palatine, IL.

Program Analysis

At $31,747/yr, Accounting graduates from William Rainey Harper College land near the $35,807 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 86.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 62% task exposure — and the 0% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Accounting graduates.

Ranked #37 out of 176 programs, William Rainey Harper College's Accounting program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

With 5 registered apprenticeships mapped to Accounting, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

70 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
64
Low End
70
Score
73
High End
Earnings $31,747/yr (-11% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (38% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$332K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
86.9x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
13 of 14
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$3,822
Out-of-state: $11,802

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Accounting graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Financial managers $161,700 +14.8% 50%
Financial risk specialists $106,000 +6.5% 47%
Financial and investment analysts $101,350 +5.7% 54%
Financial managers
$161,700
+14.8% growth 50% AI-proof
Financial risk specialists
$106,000
+6.5% growth 47% AI-proof
Financial and investment analysts
$101,350
+5.7% growth 54% AI-proof

View all 14 career paths with full salary data →

Accounting Career Guide

From day-one roles to senior positions, Accounting careers span a range of specializations. Read the complete outlook for graduates entering business & office.

Read the full Accounting career guide →

Compare & Explore

Accounting Overview

Accounting at Other Schools

Other Majors at William Rainey Harper College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Accounting at William Rainey Harper College?
A score of 70/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. William Rainey Harper College's Accounting graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
What's the AI risk for Accounting graduates from William Rainey Harper College?
AI exposure of 62% is a real factor. For William Rainey Harper College specifically, the gap between optimistic ($332,142) and pessimistic ($332,142) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.
Why does William Rainey Harper College rank so high for Accounting?
Ranked #37 of 176 programs nationally, William Rainey Harper College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Can I learn Accounting through an apprenticeship instead of William Rainey Harper College?
There are 5 registered apprenticeships connected to Accounting occupations, such as Accounting Technician (Alternate Title: Accounting Specialist) and Accounting Technician (Alternate Title: Accounting Specialist, Payroll Assistant Specialist). The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
How many job openings are there for Accounting graduates?
The very large job market (451,900 annual openings) works in favor of Accounting graduates. The national outlook is driven by consistent replacement demand and industry growth, though regional variation matters.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →