Education Graduate Salaries in Illinois
Federal earnings data for every Illinois college offering Education, ranked by 10-year median graduate salary. Sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — real tax-reported income, not surveys.
Education in Illinois. Special Education has 1% unemployment and 98% of districts report difficulty filling roles. Teacher shortages are the most severe in 30+ years.
Typical career paths: Elementary Teacher, Special Education Teacher, High School Teacher, School Counselor, Principal/Administrator. Median starting salary range: $45,000–$65,000. School choice can swing graduate earnings by 30–60% — which is why we rank by federal data, not prestige.
| # | School | 10-yr earnings | Net price/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL | $104,255 | $34,420 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL | $87,599 | $13,042 |
| 3 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL | $78,431 | $36,340 |
| 4 | Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington, IL | $76,193 | $27,863 |
| 5 | Bradley University Peoria, IL | $76,013 | $22,469 |
| 6 | DePaul University Chicago, IL | $75,602 | $27,308 |
| 7 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL | $73,666 | $9,540 |
| 8 | Lake Forest College Lake Forest, IL | $70,470 | $24,987 |
| 9 | University of St Francis Joliet, IL | $69,137 | $15,961 |
| 10 | Wheaton College Wheaton, IL | $68,390 | $26,059 |
| 11 | Illinois State University Normal, IL | $67,557 | $17,829 |
| 12 | Elmhurst University Elmhurst, IL | $67,398 | $23,165 |
| 13 | Benedictine University Lisle, IL | $67,314 | $18,910 |
| 14 | Augustana College Rock Island, IL | $67,144 | $21,153 |
| 15 | Dominican University River Forest, IL | $66,693 | $14,013 |
| 16 | North Central College Naperville, IL | $65,646 | $22,836 |
| 17 | Saint Xavier University Chicago, IL | $64,661 | $10,171 |
| 18 | University of Illinois Springfield Springfield, IL | $64,479 | $7,528 |
| 19 | Aurora University Aurora, IL | $64,180 | $19,385 |
| 20 | McKendree University Lebanon, IL | $63,391 | $18,457 |
| 21 | Governors State University University Park, IL | $61,863 | $15,833 |
| 22 | North Park University Chicago, IL | $61,717 | $15,949 |
| 23 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL | $61,351 | $14,505 |
| 24 | Trinity Christian College Palos Heights, IL | $60,507 | $15,155 |
| 25 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL | $59,436 | $13,111 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are 10-year median income for graduates of each institution (all majors, since program-level earnings are released only for select fields). Refreshed every 24 hours.
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Frequently asked questions
What do Education graduates earn in Illinois?
The median 10-year earnings for Education graduates from Illinois colleges is $60,507, with a range from $48,395 at lower-earning schools to $104,255 at top-earning schools. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Which Illinois school has the highest Education graduate salary?
Northwestern University ranks first among Illinois schools offering Education, with a 10-year median graduate salary of $104,255.
How is "graduate salary" measured?
These figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. They reflect actual federal tax-reported income of all graduates 10 years after enrollment — including those who pursued graduate school and those who took industry jobs. They are not survey-based.
Are these salaries adjusted for cost of living?
No. These are raw federal earnings figures. Illinois salaries should be considered in context of local cost of living. For example, $90,000 in California has different purchasing power than $90,000 in North Carolina.