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Best Schools for Education in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall education education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Education
Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in education. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 100 education students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $60,947. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
Read more about the education program at Northwestern University
A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top schools for education. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 579 education degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Education graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $51,589 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,876 in student loans.
See the full education program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Illinois At Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in education, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 384 education degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their education degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $60,451 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,080.
More information about a degree in education from University Of Illinois At Chicago
A rank of #4 makes Illinois State University one of the top schools for education. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Illinois State University awarded about 1,022 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Illinois State University earn around $50,328 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,372 to complete this degree.
Get the full education details for Illinois State University
Loyola University Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in education, ranking #5. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. About 179 education degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their education degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $59,591 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full education details for Loyola University Chicago
Concordia University Chicago earned the #6 position for education this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of River Forest. Concordia University Chicago graduates 36% of students within six years. There were roughly 759 education students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Concordia University Chicago earn around $64,288 in the first couple years of their career. Concordia University Chicago graduates carry a median of $26,552 in student loans.
See the full education program report for Concordia University Chicago
Depaul University came in at #7 for education this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 396 education students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Depaul University earn around $53,333 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,921 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in education from Depaul University
Wheaton College Illinois came in at #8 for education this year. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wheaton College Illinois awarded about 58 education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Wheaton College Illinois generally make around $47,714. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in education from Wheaton College Illinois
Northeastern Illinois University placed #9 among the best education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. Northeastern Illinois University graduates 22% of students within six years. There were roughly 313 education students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $70,389 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,098 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in education from Northeastern Illinois University
University Of St Francis landed the #10 spot for education this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Joliet. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. University Of St Francis awarded about 288 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from University Of St Francis earn around $63,830 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,642 to complete this degree.
Read more about the education program at University Of St Francis
Northern Illinois University landed the #11 spot for education this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. About 575 education degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Education graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $52,225 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,723 to complete this degree.
Read more about the education program at Northern Illinois University
Elmhurst College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Elmhurst. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Elmhurst College awarded about 91 education degrees in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of $46,901 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,649.
Get the full education details for Elmhurst College
Olivet Nazarene University landed the #13 spot for education this year. Set in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. There were roughly 214 education students who graduated with this degree at Olivet Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $53,435 in their early career. Olivet Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $26,994 in student loans.
See the full education program report for Olivet Nazarene University
Lake Forest College came in at #14 for education this year. Set in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. Lake Forest College awarded about 18 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Lake Forest College earn around $41,168 in the first couple years of their career. Lake Forest College graduates carry a median of $26,661 in student loans.
Get the full education details for Lake Forest College
Aurora University came in at #15 for education this year. Located in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Aurora University graduates 60% of students within six years. Aurora University awarded about 177 education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $66,967 in their early career. Aurora University graduates carry a median of $24,197 in student loans.
See the full education program report for Aurora University
Elgin Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. Elgin Community College awarded about 44 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Elgin Community College earn around $43,975 in the first couple years of their career. Elgin Community College graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans.
More information about a degree in education from Elgin Community College
Monmouth College earned the #17 position for education this year. Set in the town of Monmouth, Monmouth College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 22 education degrees were awarded at Monmouth College in the most recent year. Education graduates of Monmouth College earn a median of $36,675 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,444.
More information about a degree in education from Monmouth College
North Central College placed #18 among the best education schools. Located in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 66 education students who graduated with this degree at North Central College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from North Central College generally make around $55,928. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in education from North Central College
Dominican University came in at #19 for education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of River Forest. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 107 education students who graduated with this degree at Dominican University in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Dominican University earn a median of $45,924 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the education program at Dominican University
Harper College came in at #20 for education this year. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. Harper College awarded about 34 education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $44,523 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,963.
See the full education program report for Harper College
Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #21 position for education this year. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 239 education degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent year. Students who receive their education degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn around $50,596 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,537.
Get the full education details for Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Illinois College came in at #22 for education this year. Located in the town of Jacksonville, Illinois College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 education students who graduated with this degree at Illinois College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Illinois College earn around $41,184 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,922 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in education from Illinois College
Roosevelt University earned the #23 position for education this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 46% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 198 education students who graduated with this degree at Roosevelt University in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of $74,964 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the education program at Roosevelt University
Lewis University came in at #24 for education this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Romeoville. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lewis University awarded about 193 education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Lewis University generally make around $48,046. Lewis University graduates carry a median of $25,377 in student loans.
Read more about the education program at Lewis University
Eastern Illinois University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. Eastern Illinois University graduates 47% of students within six years. Eastern Illinois University awarded about 301 education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $44,618 in their early career. Eastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $27,723 in student loans.
Read more about the education program at Eastern Illinois University
Rest of the Top 50 Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s education ranking:
