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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Early Childhood Education Schools in Illinois

19 Colleges in the United States
1,029 Early Childhood Education Degrees Awarded
$44,990 Avg Early-Career Salary

Early Childhood Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 38 schools to find the best for early childhood education students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Early Childhood Education in Illinois

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the early childhood education degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Early Childhood Education

1

No school ranked higher than University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign this year for early childhood education. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 19 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $50,601 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500. Get the full early childhood education details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

2

University Of Illinois At Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 46 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $65,587 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete this degree. Read more about the early childhood education program at University Of Illinois At Chicago

3

Illinois State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 114 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $44,898. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500. Get the full early childhood education details for Illinois State University

4

Northeastern Illinois University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #4 spot this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. Northeastern Illinois University graduates 22% of students within six years. About 33 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $51,301 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,612. Get the full early childhood education details for Northeastern Illinois University

5

A rank of #5 makes Northern Illinois University one of the top schools for early childhood education. This large public university is located in the suburb of Dekalb. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 40 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Northern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Northern Illinois University earn around $44,214 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Northern Illinois University

6

Concordia University Chicago landed the #6 spot for early childhood education this year. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. Concordia University Chicago awarded about 23 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Concordia University Chicago earn a median of $51,004 early in their careers. Concordia University Chicago graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Get the full early childhood education details for Concordia University Chicago

7
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University came in at #7 for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 36 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Depaul University earn around $49,111 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Get the full early childhood education details for Depaul University

8

Elgin Community College landed the #8 spot for early childhood education this year. This large public university is located in the city of Elgin. There were roughly 44 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Elgin Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $43,975 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete this degree. Get the full early childhood education details for Elgin Community College

9

Roosevelt University placed #9 among the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. Roosevelt University awarded about 25 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of $56,418 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. See the full early childhood education program report for Roosevelt University

10

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #10 spot for early childhood education this year. This large public university is located in the town of Carbondale. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 18 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $39,496 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,944. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale

11

Saint Xavier University came in at #11 for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Saint Xavier University in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $49,526 early in their careers. Saint Xavier University graduates carry a median of $29,854 in student loans. Get the full early childhood education details for Saint Xavier University

12

National Louis University earned the #12 position for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 30% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 344 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at National Louis University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from National Louis University earn around $47,995 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $42,172 to complete this degree. See the full early childhood education program report for National Louis University

13

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #13 for early childhood education this year. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 27 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $38,830 early in their careers. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates carry a median of $26,250 in student loans. See the full early childhood education program report for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

14
Governors State University crest
Governors State University
University Park, IL

Governors State University came in at #14 for early childhood education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 21%. About 20 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Governors State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, early childhood education degree recipients from Governors State University generally make around $45,235. Governors State University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Governors State University

15

Saint Augustine College came in at #15 for early childhood education this year. Saint Augustine College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 20% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 52 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Saint Augustine College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $34,201 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $4,974 to complete this degree. See the full early childhood education program report for Saint Augustine College

16

Rasmussen College Illinois earned the #16 position for early childhood education this year. This mid-sized private for-profit university is located in the city of Rockford. There were roughly 64 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Rasmussen College Illinois in the most recent data year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Rasmussen College Illinois earn around $28,188 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,722 to complete this degree. Get the full early childhood education details for Rasmussen College Illinois

17
Blackburn College crest
Blackburn College
Carlinville, IL

Blackburn College earned the #17 position for early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Carlinville, Blackburn College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Blackburn College in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $33,739 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,255. See the full early childhood education program report for Blackburn College

18
Rockford College crest
Rockford College
Rockford, IL

Rockford College landed the #18 spot for early childhood education this year. Set in the city of Rockford, Rockford College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. Rockford College awarded about 16 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $38,867 in their early career. Rockford College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full early childhood education details for Rockford College

19
Erikson Institute crest
Erikson Institute
Chicago, IL

Erikson Institute ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. There were roughly 41 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Erikson Institute in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Erikson Institute earn a median of $53,630 early in their careers. Get the full early childhood education details for Erikson Institute

20

Chicago State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Chicago State University is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 16%. There were roughly 10 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Chicago State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $47,477 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $53,774. See the full early childhood education program report for Chicago State University

21

Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College placed #21 among the best early childhood education schools. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Rockford. There were roughly 16 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $30,486 in their early career. Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College graduates carry a median of $18,007 in student loans. See the full early childhood education program report for Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 38 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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