2026 Best Value Mathematics Education Schools in Illinois
[Mathematics Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/mathematics-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 25 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value mathematics education schools.
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2026 Best Value Mathematics Education Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in mathematics education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Mathematics Education Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #1 spot for value among mathematics education schools in Illinois. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,125 to complete the mathematics education program here. Soon after graduation, mathematics education degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $58,732. Set against $17,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Western Illinois University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value mathematics education schools. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,572. Students borrow a median of $27,639 to complete the mathematics education program here. Early-career mathematics education graduates make about $47,926. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
A rank of #3 makes Saint Xavier University one of the best values for mathematics education. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $38,945. Mathematics Education graduates carry a median of $27,194 in student loans. Mathematics Education graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $46,835 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,194 median debt. Saint Xavier University admits about 84% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in mathematics education will find it at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Mathematics Education graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career mathematics education graduates make about $51,105. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Augustana College Illinois is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mathematics education, landing the #5 spot this year. Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rock Island. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,598. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the mathematics education program here. Early-career mathematics education graduates make about $45,145. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Augustana College Illinois admits about 63% of applicants.
National Louis University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value mathematics education schools. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,245. Students borrow a median of $29,242 to complete the mathematics education program here. Mathematics Education graduates of National Louis University earn a median of $53,733 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #7 for value in mathematics education this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Typical student debt for mathematics education graduates is $21,182. Mathematics Education graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $51,816 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,182 median debt. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of St Francis came in at #8 for value in mathematics education this year. Set in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,110. Typical student debt for mathematics education graduates is $25,695. Soon after graduation, mathematics education degree recipients from University Of St Francis generally make around $59,586. That is a strong return on a $25,695 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Trinity Christian College earned the #9 position for value in mathematics education this year. Trinity Christian College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Palos Heights. Students from in state pay about $20,605 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for mathematics education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, mathematics education degree recipients from Trinity Christian College generally make around $44,538. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Concordia University Chicago landed the #10 spot for mathematics education value this year. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,488. Mathematics Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mathematics education degree recipients from Concordia University Chicago generally make around $51,796. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Concordia University Chicago admits about 93% of applicants.
Illinois State University landed the #11 spot for mathematics education value this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mathematics education graduates is $24,149. Soon after graduation, mathematics education degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $50,102. Set against $24,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Elmhurst College placed #12 among the best values for mathematics education. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,955. Typical student debt for mathematics education graduates is $27,000. Mathematics Education graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of $46,789 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Olivet Nazarene University landed the #13 spot for mathematics education value this year. Located in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,900. Mathematics Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mathematics education degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $51,475. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Blackburn College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value mathematics education schools. Blackburn College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Carlinville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,149. Typical student debt for mathematics education graduates is $25,255. Early-career mathematics education graduates make about $33,739. Set against $25,255 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Bradley University earned the #15 position for value in mathematics education this year. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,160. Mathematics Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career mathematics education graduates make about $42,917. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Depaul University earned the #16 position for value in mathematics education this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Mathematics Education graduates carry a median of $26,910 in student loans. Mathematics Education graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $52,130 early in their careers. Set against $26,910 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
More Mathematics Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 25 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.
