Best Middle School Teacher programs in Illinois, ranked by enrollment
Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school.
53 schools in Illinois run programs that feed this job, graduating 1,960 people a year. The job pays a median of $76,110 in Illinois across about 24,770 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Illinois that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
24 programs in Illinois that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Illinois (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Illinois page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 13.1314In Illinois → | 320 | 16.3% | 17 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 2 | CIP 13.1315In Illinois → | 258 | 13.2% | 16 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 3 | CIP 13.1312In Illinois → | 243 | 12.4% | 22 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 4 | CIP 13.1203In Illinois → | 241 | 12.3% | 23 | $41,127 | $25,500 |
| 5 | CIP 13.1401In Illinois → | 216 | 11.0% | 15 | $36,305 | $26,250 |
| 6 | CIP 13.1302In Illinois → | 105 | 5.4% | 15 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 7 | CIP 13.1305In Illinois → | 105 | 5.4% | 12 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 8 | CIP 13.1307In Illinois → | 73 | 3.7% | 4 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 9 | CIP 13.1311In Illinois → | 65 | 3.3% | 16 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 10 | CIP 13.1328In Illinois → | 65 | 3.3% | 6 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 11 | CIP 13.0201In Illinois → | 52 | 2.7% | 7 | $56,738 | $19,664 |
| 12 | CIP 13.1317In Illinois → | 37 | 1.9% | 8 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 13 | CIP 13.1330In Illinois → | 37 | 1.9% | 9 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 14 | CIP 13.1206In Illinois → | 35 | 1.8% | 4 | $41,127 | $25,500 |
| 15 | CIP 13.1316In Illinois → | 25 | 1.3% | 7 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 16 | CIP 13.1322In Illinois → | 24 | 1.2% | 8 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 17 | CIP 13.1327In Illinois → | 23 | 1.2% | 2 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 18 | CIP 13.1318In Illinois → | 13 | 0.7% | 4 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 19 | CIP 13.1306In Illinois → | 10 | 0.5% | 4 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 20 | CIP 13.1309In Illinois → | 6 | 0.3% | 1 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 21 | CIP 13.1323In Illinois → | 3 | 0.2% | 1 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 22 | CIP 13.1333In Illinois → | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 23 | CIP 13.1324In Illinois → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 24 | CIP 13.1499In Illinois → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $36,305 | $26,250 |
Top 25 schools in Illinois
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 27 of the 53 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois State University Normal, IL Public · 11 feeder programs | 246 | Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | $44,613 | 65% | — | 88% |
| 2 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL Public · 8 feeder programs | 145 | English/Language Arts Teacher Education | $47,292 | 62% | — | 77% |
| 3 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL Public · 4 feeder programs | 141 | Reading Teacher Education | $45,184 | 49% | — | 70% |
| 4 | Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais, IL Private not-for-profit · 10 feeder programs | 128 | Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor | — | 61% | $20,903 | 56% |
| 5 | DePaul University Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 14 feeder programs | 124 | English/Language Arts Teacher Education | $44,068 | 68% | $28,141 | 76% |
| 6 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, IL Public · 8 feeder programs | 113 | Music Teacher Education | $46,897 | 85% | — | 42% |
| 7 | Concordia University - Chicago River Forest, IL Private not-for-profit · 12 feeder programs | 94 | Reading Teacher Education | $44,601 | 36% | $17,620 | 93% |
| 8 | Elmhurst University Elmhurst, IL Private not-for-profit · 10 feeder programs | 76 | Teacher Education, Multiple Levels | $48,105 | 70% | $20,794 | 74% |
| 9 | McKendree University Lebanon, IL Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 71 | Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | — | 53% | $23,994 | 72% |
| 10 | Saint Xavier University Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 9 feeder programs | 61 | Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching | $46,377 | 57% | $12,935 | 84% |
| 11 | Western Illinois University Macomb, IL Public · 6 feeder programs | 54 | Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | $44,376 | 45% | — | 71% |
| 12 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine, IL Public · 1 feeder programs | 54 | Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor | — | 48% | — | — |
| 13 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale, IL Public · 8 feeder programs | 52 | Health Teacher Education | $54,215 | 62% | — | 87% |
| 14 | Roosevelt University Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 51 | Bilingual and Multilingual Education | — | 35% | $21,085 | 97% |
| 15 | VanderCook College of Music Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 50 | Music Teacher Education | $43,100 | 67% | $18,033 | 89% |
| 16 | National Louis University Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 43 | Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching | $40,484 | 30% | $18,904 | 95% |
| 17 | Northeastern Illinois University Chicago, IL Public · 4 feeder programs | 43 | Reading Teacher Education | $63,615 | 22% | — | 75% |
| 18 | University of St Francis Joliet, IL Private not-for-profit · 8 feeder programs | 35 | Reading Teacher Education | — | 67% | $15,591 | 65% |
| 19 | Augustana College Rock Island, IL Private not-for-profit · 8 feeder programs | 33 | History Teacher Education | $45,145 | 73% | $14,960 | 63% |
| 20 | Bradley University Peoria, IL Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 31 | English/Language Arts Teacher Education | $42,917 | 76% | $21,768 | 77% |
| 21 | Trinity Christian College Palos Heights, IL Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 31 | Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | $44,538 | 58% | $15,126 | 85% |
| 22 | Wheaton College Wheaton, IL Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 25 | Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor | — | 85% | $23,461 | 87% |
| 23 | Aurora University Aurora, IL Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 24 | Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | — | 60% | $18,431 | 81% |
| 24 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL Public · 3 feeder programs | 22 | Health Teacher Education | $38,821 | 47% | — | 65% |
| 25 | Millikin University Decatur, IL Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 22 | Music Teacher Education | $43,936 | 55% | $8,373 | 67% |
All 53 schools in Illinois
Every school in Illinois with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois State University | Normal | Public | 246 | 11 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago | Public | 145 | 8 |
| Northern Illinois University | Dekalb | Public | 141 | 4 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais | Private not-for-profit | 128 | 10 |
| DePaul University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 124 | 14 |
| University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign | Champaign | Public | 113 | 8 |
| Concordia University - Chicago | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 94 | 12 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | Private not-for-profit | 76 | 10 |
| McKendree University | Lebanon | Private not-for-profit | 71 | 4 |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 61 | 9 |
| Western Illinois University | Macomb | Public | 54 | 6 |
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine | Public | 54 | 1 |
| Southern Illinois University - Carbondale | Carbondale | Public | 52 | 8 |
| Roosevelt University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 51 | 4 |
| VanderCook College of Music | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 50 | 1 |
What middle school teachers earn in Illinois
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $64,370. Illinois pays above the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Illinois
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Middle School Teachers page.
How to become a Middle School Teacher
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Illinois
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 25 majors mapped to Middle School Teachers24 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 13.0201Bilingual and Multilingual Education
- 13.1203Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching
- 13.1206Teacher Education, Multiple Levels
- 13.1207Montessori Teacher Education
- 13.1208Waldorf/Steiner Teacher Education(no graduates reported)
- 13.1211Online Educator/Online Teaching
- 13.1212International Teaching and Learning
- 13.1213Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Educational Methods
- 13.1302Art Teacher Education
- 13.1305English/Language Arts Teacher Education
- 13.1306Foreign Language Teacher Education
- 13.1307Health Teacher Education
- 13.1308Family and Consumer Sciences/Home Economics Teacher Education
- 13.1309Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education
- 13.1311Mathematics Teacher Education
- 13.1312Music Teacher Education
- 13.1314Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
- 13.1315Reading Teacher Education
- 13.1316Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
- 13.1317Social Science Teacher Education
- 13.1318Social Studies Teacher Education
- 13.1321Computer Teacher Education
- 13.1322Biology Teacher Education
- 13.1323Chemistry Teacher Education
- 13.1324Drama and Dance Teacher Education
Common questions
Answers for people weighing middle school teachers programs in Illinois.
What degree do you need to become a Middle School Teacher?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Physical Education Teaching and Coaching, which awarded 320 degrees in Illinois in 2024-25, 16.3% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Middle School Teacher?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 24 programs to this occupation. The largest are Teacher Education and Professional Development, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language, Bilingual. Together they graduate about 1,960 people a year in Illinois.
How much do middle school teachers earn in Illinois?+
The median is $76,110 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 18.2% above the U.S. median of $64,370. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for middle school teachers growing?+
BLS projects a -2.0% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, decline, with roughly 40,500 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Illinois?+
53 institutions in Illinois reported graduates from at least one of the 24 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do middle school teachers work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Teacher, Science Teacher, Language Arts Teacher (LA Teacher), Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 25-2022.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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