Get your Bachelor of Science in Accounting Near Chicago

Pursue your passions and prepare for a thriving career with an accounting degree from Governors State University. This degree program prepares you for a range of financial and business roles. Whether continuing your education to become a certified public accountant or immediately starting as an accountant or auditor, find out how GovState prepares you for a career in this dynamic and growing field.

Compare classes, review electives, and chart your course to a successful career with our accounting program. Discuss your career goals with an advisor to see how you can ignite your passion and access the resources you need for a career in accounting.

Why Study Accounting?

Are you passionate about helping businesses achieve more? An account interprets financial information and creates recommendations for financial decisions. As an accountant, you’ll be working with business owners, government organizations, or other important groups to improve their stability and financial health.

Studying at Governor State University allows you to hone your skills and expand your knowledge in a supportive, diverse, and tight-knit group. Small class sizes allow you to spend more time with your professors and other experts in the industry. Mentorships, internships, and other practical experiences in Chicago and the surrounding area help you graduate ready to take on a full-time position in accounting.

Modern accountants use a wide range of accounting software programs and other technological resources, so part of your training will include practice with various accounting programs. Stay up to date with the latest technology to make your job as an accountant, bookkeeper, auditor, or manager easier.

Anyone interested in numbers, financial records, and making financial decisions to help businesses thrive in an accounting role. Discover the jobs and salary expectations for individuals with this degree before embarking on your journey with GovState.

Organizations rely on accountants to inform financial decisions ranging from overall budget to tax savings. Governors State’s Bachelor of Science in Accounting will prepare you with the knowledge and skills to enter the accounting profession in the public, private, and government sectors. In your core business courses, you will also learn how increasingly globalized markets affect financial and tax scenarios.

To earn your CPA certificate in the State of Illinois, you will need 150 college credit hours. Earn both your needed credits and a graduate degree through GovState’s coordinated 150-hour B.S. and M.S. in Accounting.

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Reach Your Career Goals

Graduates of GovState’s Accounting program have entered positions both in local firms and Big Four firms, such as Deloitte. Many students receive real-world preparation through internship placements—in 2018, five out of 25 Mary T. Washington Wylie Internship Preparation Program recipients were GovState accounting students.

Strong economic conditions create a high demand for accountants, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects to grow by 10% over the next decade.

Student Highlight

Liam Kirschbaum, a current student in the Accounting (B.S.) program, is the Governors State University Student Liaison to the Illinois CPA Society (ILCPAS) and holds the position of co-president of the Accounting, Finance, and Economics Club. Liam also hold various positions in other academic and honor society organizations on campus. 

Jobs and Salary You Can Get With an Accounting Degree

What does an accountant do? Accounting and bookkeeping have many similarities and differences, and a BS in Accounting from GovState prepares you for both roles. As a bookkeeper, you are in charge of recording and categorizing financial transactions for an organization. An accountant must not only categorize this information but must create a strategy and tax plan.

The analytic and interpretive financial skills you learn in our accounting program can help you in many jobs. Here are some of the most common positions students with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting can set as their career goals:

• Auditor
• Certified public accountant, or CPA
• Financial manager
• Account manager
• Investment banker
• Chief financial officer, or CFO

Auditing is an essential service, and your BS degree can prepare you for a successful career as an auditor. Use your financial skills to search for fraudulent procedures and investigate any areas of non-compliance with federal, state, and local laws.

An accounting degree also prepares you to manage teams of financial professionals. Mentorships with professors in your industry allow you to grow your leadership skills and work closely with an accounting or financing team to meet objectives and deadlines. 

Management gives you the rewards of training future accountants. If you enjoy teaching and connecting with other accounting professionals, a career as a team manager may be right for you.

Lead a company and enjoy an average income of $364,649 as a CFO. This essential role helps steer the direction of a company’s financing. Most CFO positions require related work experience and a master's degree, but a BS in Accounting is your first step to a career as a CFO.

These positions play critical roles in the financial industry. Lead teams, manage investments, or document company financial decisions confidently thanks to the training and education received at GovState. Your bachelor’s degree prepares you for a successful career, whether you stay in Chicago or explore the job market throughout the United States.

Some students choose to expand their options and use their accountant degree in other roles. Start your own business or embark on another career path with the financial confidence and decision-making resources that a BS in Accounting can foster.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for accountants and auditors is $78,000 per year or $37.50 per hour in 2022. Most entry-level positions require a bachelor’s degree, so a Bachelor of Science in Accounting can help you secure one of these important positions.

Accounting professionals are currently in demand, and this demand is expected to grow in the future. If you’re looking for an industry with a great job outlook in the modern job market, studying to become an accountant or auditor is a great option. Discuss your job prospects and other potential career options with our faculty to see how you can create your career path and reach your goals.

Contact:

Michael Trendell
Program Coordinator
708.534.4949
mtrendell@govst.edu
Office: G Building 197

Undergraduate Academic Advising Center (UAAC)
advising@govst.edu
708.534.8043
Office: C3385

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Learn More at GovState

Explore what other BS degree accounting students are doing to prepare for successful financial industry careers today. Whether you’re pursuing a career as a CFO or training to become an auditor, apply online to start your career path. A BS in Accounting is a rewarding step in your career path, whether continuing to a master’s degree or entering the job market.