Best Education Programs in Illinois (2026)
Education programs in Illinois prepare students for K-12 teaching, special education, and educational leadership. The schools below are ranked by program strength, certification pass rates (where available), and net price — important for a field where starting salaries are modest.
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#1
VanderCook College of Music
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$21,556/yr
Median Earnings
$54,590
Grad Rate
49%
Education Share
94.7%
#2
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
Net Price
$34,420/yr
Median Earnings
$104,255
Grad Rate
96%
Education Share
0.6%
#3
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL
Net Price
$13,042/yr
Median Earnings
$87,599
Grad Rate
86%
Education Share
2.5%
#4
Bradley University
Peoria, IL
Net Price
$22,469/yr
Median Earnings
$76,013
Grad Rate
75%
Education Share
7.9%
#5
Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, IL
Net Price
$15,155/yr
Median Earnings
$60,507
Grad Rate
61%
Education Share
27.9%
#6
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL
Net Price
$27,863/yr
Median Earnings
$76,193
Grad Rate
74%
Education Share
6.5%
#7
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL
Net Price
$26,059/yr
Median Earnings
$68,390
Grad Rate
83%
Education Share
4.8%
#8
Illinois State University
Normal, IL
Net Price
$17,829/yr
Median Earnings
$67,557
Grad Rate
66%
Education Share
18.0%
#9
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$36,340/yr
Median Earnings
$78,431
Grad Rate
73%
Education Share
2.7%
#10
Blackburn College
Carlinville, IL
Net Price
$25,577/yr
Median Earnings
$48,794
Grad Rate
53%
Education Share
38.9%
#11
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, IL
Net Price
$23,165/yr
Median Earnings
$67,398
Grad Rate
67%
Education Share
12.1%
#12
Augustana College
Rock Island, IL
Net Price
$21,153/yr
Median Earnings
$67,144
Grad Rate
73%
Education Share
7.6%
#13
DePaul University
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$27,108/yr
Median Earnings
$75,602
Grad Rate
68%
Education Share
3.1%
#14
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL
Net Price
$24,987/yr
Median Earnings
$70,470
Grad Rate
75%
Education Share
0.9%
#15
University of St Francis
Joliet, IL
Net Price
$15,961/yr
Median Earnings
$69,137
Grad Rate
65%
Education Share
4.8%
#16
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL
Net Price
$17,318/yr
Median Earnings
$59,389
Grad Rate
61%
Education Share
14.7%
#17
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$9,540/yr
Median Earnings
$73,666
Grad Rate
62%
Education Share
3.7%
#18
Knox College
Galesburg, IL
Net Price
$19,292/yr
Median Earnings
$56,244
Grad Rate
70%
Education Share
9.7%
#19
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, IL
Net Price
$19,978/yr
Median Earnings
$58,865
Grad Rate
60%
Education Share
15.1%
#20
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$10,171/yr
Median Earnings
$64,661
Grad Rate
56%
Education Share
12.9%
#21
McKendree University
Lebanon, IL
Net Price
$18,457/yr
Median Earnings
$63,391
Grad Rate
52%
Education Share
14.9%
#22
Dominican University
River Forest, IL
Net Price
$14,013/yr
Median Earnings
$66,693
Grad Rate
58%
Education Share
7.7%
#23
Aurora University
Aurora, IL
Net Price
$19,385/yr
Median Earnings
$64,180
Grad Rate
60%
Education Share
6.9%
#24
North Central College
Naperville, IL
Net Price
$22,836/yr
Median Earnings
$65,646
Grad Rate
63%
Education Share
3.5%
#25
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL
Net Price
$12,554/yr
Median Earnings
$57,388
Grad Rate
61%
Education Share
9.4%
Why a Education degree?
Special Education has 1% unemployment and 98% of districts report difficulty filling roles. Teacher shortages are the most severe in 30+ years.
Common career paths: Elementary Teacher · Special Education Teacher · High School Teacher · School Counselor · Principal/Administrator
Typical starting salary range: $45,000–$65,000
Find your best fit, not just the highest rank
Our 2-minute quiz weights cost, earnings, graduation rate, and other priorities to your family — and matches you to schools that actually fit, not just the top of a list.
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