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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools in the Great Lakes Region

10 Colleges in the United States
330 Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Degrees Awarded
$52,148 Avg Early-Career Salary

Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 75 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor education in the Great Lakes Region.

Top Schools in Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor

1

University Of Wisconsin Madison is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 12 teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program make about $59,877 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Read more about the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program at University Of Wisconsin Madison

2

Wheaton College Illinois is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor, ranking #2. Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wheaton. Wheaton College Illinois graduates 85% of students within six years. About 16 teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degrees were awarded at Wheaton College Illinois in the most recent year. Students who receive their teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree from Wheaton College Illinois earn around $43,654 in the first couple years of their career. Wheaton College Illinois graduates carry a median of $23,292 in student loans. See the full teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program report for Wheaton College Illinois

3

Olivet Nazarene University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor, ranking #3. Located in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Olivet Nazarene University graduates 61% of students within six years. Olivet Nazarene University awarded about 26 teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $59,061. Olivet Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $26,797 in student loans. Read more about the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program at Olivet Nazarene University

4
Goshen College crest
Goshen College
Goshen, IN

Goshen College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Goshen, Goshen College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 44 teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degrees were awarded at Goshen College in the most recent year. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Goshen College earn a median of $71,791 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program at Goshen College

5

A rank of #5 makes Northeastern Illinois University one of the top schools for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northeastern Illinois University awarded about 18 teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degrees in the most recent data year. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $49,254 early in their careers. Northeastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $17,600 in student loans. More information about a degree in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor from Northeastern Illinois University

6
Dominican University crest
Dominican University
River Forest, IL

Dominican University came in at #6 for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. Dominican University graduates 55% of students within six years. About 34 teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degrees were awarded at Dominican University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree recipients from Dominican University generally make around $45,546. Typical student debt for the program is $26,236. Read more about the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program at Dominican University

7
Harper College crest
Harper College
Palatine, IL

Harper College placed #7 among the best teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Palatine. About 26 teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degrees were awarded at Harper College in the most recent year. Graduates of the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program make about $44,523 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete this degree. Get the full teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor details for Harper College

8
Indiana State University crest
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, IN

Indiana State University landed the #8 spot for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Terre Haute. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. Indiana State University awarded about 21 teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program make about $53,952 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,582 to complete this degree. Get the full teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor details for Indiana State University

9

Western Michigan University landed the #9 spot for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. This large public university is located in the city of Kalamazoo. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Western Michigan University awarded about 31 teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program make about $59,481 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,981. More information about a degree in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor from Western Michigan University

10

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #10 position for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 43 teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,530. Get the full teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor details for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

11

College Of Lake County landed the #11 spot for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. College Of Lake County awarded about 19 teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program make about $50,314 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,785. See the full teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program report for College Of Lake County

12

Kent State University At Kent ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor schools. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor students who graduated with this degree at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent data year. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $22,149 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,423 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor from Kent State University At Kent

13

Ohio Dominican University landed the #13 spot for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Columbus. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. Ohio Dominican University awarded about 12 teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree from Ohio Dominican University earn around $59,666 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,166 to complete this degree. Get the full teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor details for Ohio Dominican University

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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 · 75 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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