2026 Best Value Social Studies Education Schools in Illinois
[Social Studies Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/social-studies-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for social studies education students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Social Studies Education Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the social studies education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Social Studies Education Schools
Our analysis ranked Augustana College Illinois the best value for a degree in social studies education in Illinois. Located in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $51,598 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for social studies education graduates is $27,000. Early-career social studies education graduates make about $45,145. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of St Francis one of the best values for social studies education. Set in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,110. Students borrow a median of $25,695 to complete the social studies education program here. Soon after graduation, social studies education degree recipients from University Of St Francis generally make around $59,586. That is a strong return on a $25,695 median debt. University Of St Francis admits about 65% of applicants.
Blackburn College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value social studies education schools. Set in the town of Carlinville, Blackburn College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $28,149 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for social studies education graduates is $25,255. Social Studies Education graduates of Blackburn College earn a median of $33,739 early in their careers. Set against $25,255 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bradley University earned it the #4 place for social studies education. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,160. Social Studies Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Social Studies Education graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $42,917 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
More Social Studies Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
