Best Colleges for Education in Illinois
The best colleges for a Education degree in Illinois, led by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, DePaul University and Loyola University Chicago. Each school is shown with its acceptance rate, tuition, and average SAT so you can weigh Education programs side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college for Education in Illinois?
Based on our rankings, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the top-ranked college for Education in Illinois. Other top choices include DePaul University, Loyola University Chicago, Western Illinois University.
What are the best Education schools?
The best Education schools, based on program-specific federal data including median earnings and graduate counts, are University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, DePaul University, Loyola University Chicago. Our rankings use College Scorecard field-of-study data rather than editorial opinion.
How much does it cost to study Education?
The average out-of-state tuition among top Education programs is approximately $34,790 per year. However, costs vary significantly — many schools offer generous financial aid packages that can reduce the effective cost.
How long does it take to get a Education degree?
A bachelor's degree in Education typically takes four years of full-time study. Some programs offer accelerated tracks or combined bachelor's-to-master's options that can extend or shorten the timeline.
How are these Education rankings determined?
Our major rankings are independently calculated from U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study (CIP) data — primarily median earnings 4 years after graduation and program scale (graduate count), with a 10+ annual graduates minimum per program. They are not derived from US News or any other publication.
Career outcomes for Education graduates
Among the top 10 ranked Education programs, the average early-career salary is approximately $63,156 per year. Below are the highest-paying Education programs based on federal College Scorecard earnings data reported by graduates four years after completion.
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Champaign, IL · $81,054/yr (rank #1)
- Loyola University Chicago — Chicago, IL · $71,530/yr (rank #2)
- DePaul University — Chicago, IL · $68,751/yr (rank #3)
- Lewis University — Romeoville, IL · $66,099/yr (rank #4)
- University of St Francis — Joliet, IL · $63,926/yr (rank #5)
- 1. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Champaign, IL · 42.4% acceptance · SAT 1,440 · $35,124 tuition · 85% grad rate
- 2. DePaul University — Chicago, IL · 75.9% acceptance · SAT 1,262 · $45,999 tuition · 68% grad rate
- 3. Loyola University Chicago — Chicago, IL · 81.6% acceptance · SAT 1,297 · $53,710 tuition · 73% grad rate
- 4. Western Illinois University — Macomb, IL · 71.2% acceptance · $15,264 tuition · 45% grad rate
- 5. Wheaton College — Wheaton, IL · 87.4% acceptance · SAT 1,380 · $45,546 tuition · 85% grad rate
- 6. University of St Francis — Joliet, IL · 65.3% acceptance · SAT 1,141 · $38,110 tuition · 67% grad rate
- 7. Northern Illinois University — Dekalb, IL · 69.8% acceptance · $13,248 tuition · 49% grad rate
- 8. Olivet Nazarene University — Bourbonnais, IL · 55.9% acceptance · SAT 1,117 · $38,900 tuition · 61% grad rate
- 9. Millikin University — Decatur, IL · 66.7% acceptance · SAT 1,034 · $26,892 tuition · 55% grad rate
- 10. Lewis University — Romeoville, IL · 71.3% acceptance · SAT 1,096 · $39,200 tuition · 67% grad rate
- 11. North Central College — Naperville, IL · 77.3% acceptance · SAT 1,213 · $45,726 tuition · 64% grad rate
- 12. Augustana College — Rock Island, IL · 62.7% acceptance · SAT 1,165 · $51,598 tuition · 73% grad rate
- 13. Northeastern Illinois University — Chicago, IL · 74.6% acceptance · $22,726 tuition · 22% grad rate
- 14. Eastern Illinois University — Charleston, IL · 65.4% acceptance · SAT 1,000 · $16,217 tuition · 47% grad rate
- 15. Elmhurst University — Elmhurst, IL · 73.6% acceptance · SAT 1,151 · $42,955 tuition · 70% grad rate
- 16. Knox College — Galesburg, IL · 70.8% acceptance · SAT 1,326 · $57,903 tuition · 68% grad rate
- 17. Concordia University-Chicago — River Forest, IL · 92.8% acceptance · $37,488 tuition · 36% grad rate
- 18. Judson University — Elgin, IL · 47.6% acceptance · SAT 1,039 · $31,360 tuition · 60% grad rate
- 19. Chicago State University — Chicago, IL · 43.3% acceptance · $12,754 tuition · 15% grad rate
- 20. Eureka College — Eureka, IL · 85% acceptance · $29,096 tuition · 42% grad rate
- 21. Dominican University — River Forest, IL · 90.3% acceptance · SAT 1,002 · $38,978 tuition · 55% grad rate
- 22. Aurora University — Aurora, IL · 80.9% acceptance · SAT 1,076 · $29,170 tuition · 60% grad rate
- 23. Greenville University — Greenville, IL · 97.5% acceptance · SAT 1,038 · $32,200 tuition · 46% grad rate
Best Colleges for Education in Illinois on PickACampus