Illinois · Education

Best colleges for Education in Illinois

Ranked by graduates a year

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College and North Park University award the most Education degrees and certificates in Illinois: 220, 94 and 50 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 23 Illinois colleges offer Education and award 602 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Education program, specifically in General Education, focuses on the transmission of knowledge and skills while fostering character development. This program is designed for individuals who are passionate about teaching and learning in…

Institutions
23
offering CIP 13.01
States & territories
56
with a program page
Degrees / yr
602
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
—
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
0
College Scorecard
Median net price
$20,472
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
57%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Education Teachers, Postsecondary
$67,070
BLS OEWS May 2025

23 institutions offering Education in Illinois

Graduate earnings are not yet reported for these institutions; ordered by graduates a year.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign Public
—22085%——
2City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College
Chicago Public
—9432%——
3North Park University
Chicago Private not-for-profit
—5058%$18,494—
4McKendree University
Lebanon Private not-for-profit
—4453%$23,994—
5Greenville University
Greenville Private not-for-profit
—4040%$20,472—
6Western Illinois University
Macomb Public
—2545%——
7Northern Illinois University
Dekalb Public
—2449%——
8Lake Forest College
Lake Forest Private not-for-profit
—1578%$25,052—
9Quincy University
Quincy Private not-for-profit
—1445%$17,003—
10Concordia University - Chicago
River Forest Private not-for-profit
—1336%$17,620—
11Illinois College
Jacksonville Private not-for-profit
—1364%$15,786—
12Elmhurst University
Elmhurst Private not-for-profit
—970%$20,794—
13Principia College
Elsah Private not-for-profit
—974%——
14Knox College
Galesburg Private not-for-profit
—768%$24,240—
15Roosevelt University
Chicago Private not-for-profit
—535%$21,085—
16Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington Private not-for-profit
—475%$26,849—
17Northwestern University
Evanston Private not-for-profit
—495%$14,799—
18Rockford University
Rockford Private not-for-profit
—447%$23,077—
19Eureka College
Eureka Private not-for-profit
—242%$22,446—
20Monmouth College
Monmouth Private not-for-profit
—265%$16,821—
21University of Illinois Springfield
Springfield Public
—253%——
22Dominican University
River Forest Private not-for-profit
—155%$16,176—
23Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights Private not-for-profit
—158%$15,126—

Colleges awarding the most Education degrees in Illinois

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign Public
220Not reported
2City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College
Chicago Public
94Not reported
3North Park University
Chicago Private not-for-profit
50Not reported
4McKendree University
Lebanon Private not-for-profit
44Not reported
5Greenville University
Greenville Private not-for-profit
40Not reported
6Western Illinois University
Macomb Public
25Not reported
7Northern Illinois University
Dekalb Public
24Not reported
8Lake Forest College
Lake Forest Private not-for-profit
15Not reported
9Quincy University
Quincy Private not-for-profit
14Not reported
10Concordia University - Chicago
River Forest Private not-for-profit
13Not reported
Show the other 13 Illinois colleges offering Education
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Illinois CollegeJacksonvillePrivate not-for-profit13
Elmhurst UniversityElmhurstPrivate not-for-profit9
Principia CollegeElsahPrivate not-for-profit9
Knox CollegeGalesburgPrivate not-for-profit7
Roosevelt UniversityChicagoPrivate not-for-profit5
Illinois Wesleyan UniversityBloomingtonPrivate not-for-profit4
Northwestern UniversityEvanstonPrivate not-for-profit4
Rockford UniversityRockfordPrivate not-for-profit4
Eureka CollegeEurekaPrivate not-for-profit2
Monmouth CollegeMonmouthPrivate not-for-profit2
University of Illinois SpringfieldSpringfieldPublic2
Dominican UniversityRiver ForestPrivate not-for-profit1
Trinity Christian CollegePalos HeightsPrivate not-for-profit1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Education Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1081).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+2.1%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~5,600
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$72,090
typically Doctoral or professional degree

Top skills

SpeakingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningLearning StrategiesActive LearningWriting

What Education Teachers, Postsecondary earn in Illinois

Jobs in Illinois
3,930
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$67,070
median $61,560
Best-paying metro
$68,890
Bloomington, IL

Related careers

Education Teachers, Postsecondary
$67,070 avg · 3,930 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Education programs in Illinois.

Which Illinois colleges award the most Education degrees?+

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (220 graduates a year), City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College (94 graduates a year) and North Park University (50 graduates a year) award the most Education degrees and certificates in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 23 Illinois colleges offer Education.

How much do Education Teachers, Postsecondary earn in Illinois?+

The average annual wage for Education Teachers, Postsecondary in Illinois is $67,070 (median $61,560), across about 3,930 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Education program?+

The Education program, specifically in General Education, focuses on the transmission of knowledge and skills while fostering character development. This program is designed for individuals who are passionate about teaching and learning in…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop speaking, reading comprehension, active listening, learning strategies, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Education Teachers, Postsecondary?+

The national job outlook is about +2.1% growth with around 5,600 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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