2026 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois
[Curriculum & Instruction](/majors/education/curriculum-instruction/curriculum-and-instruction/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 26 schools to find the best return on investment for curriculum & instruction students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the curriculum & instruction degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools
Leading the list is Northern Illinois University, our #1 best value for curriculum & instruction in Illinois. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $25,209 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $52,308. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for curriculum & instruction. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned it the #3 place for curriculum & instruction. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $23,917 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $54,302 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits about 98% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in curriculum & instruction will find it at Eastern Illinois University, which ranked #4. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. In-state tuition and fees average $13,377, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Students borrow a median of $24,293 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $49,117. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes National Louis University one of the best values for curriculum & instruction. Set in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $29,242 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of National Louis University earn a median of $61,839 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,242 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of St Francis came in at #6 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Joliet. In-state tuition and fees average $38,110. Students borrow a median of $25,695 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $66,085. That is a strong return on a $25,695 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Concordia University Chicago ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,488. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $26,956 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $67,571. That is a strong return on a $26,956 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Aurora University landed the #8 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Located in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,170. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $24,507 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $51,483. Set against $24,507 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University earned the #9 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $21,896. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $57,175 early in their careers. Set against $21,896 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Olivet Nazarene University placed #10 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Set in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,900. Students borrow a median of $26,797 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $62,530. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Mckendree University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Mckendree University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lebanon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,740. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $24,362. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $65,396. Set against $24,362 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mckendree University admits about 72% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
