Best colleges for Special Education and Teaching in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois State University and Western Illinois University are the top bachelor's Special Education and Teaching programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,922, College Scorecard. Illinois State University, National Louis University and Lewis University award the most Special Education and Teaching degrees in Illinois: 215, 165 and 73 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 34 Illinois colleges offer Special Education and Teaching and award 1,018 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Special Education and Teaching program prepares students to work with individuals who have a range of disabilities and special needs. This program is ideal for those who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of students…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,922 | 42 | 85% | — | $18,925 |
| 2 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,358 | 215 | 65% | — | $20,436 |
| 3 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,729 | 25 | 45% | — | $25,986 |
| 4 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,578 | 57 | 49% | — | $21,452 |
| 5 | Lewis University Romeoville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,831 | 73 | 67% | $17,632 | $25,000 |
| 6 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,955 | 38 | 47% | — | $26,046 |
| 7 | Trinity Christian College Palos Heights Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $48,840 | 13 | 58% | $15,126 | $35,611 |
| 8 | University of St Francis Joliet Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $45,323 | 13 | 67% | $15,591 | $23,500 |
| 9 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $44,429 | 12 | 62% | — | $22,875 |
| 10 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $44,205 | 14 | 57% | — | $19,850 |
Colleges awarding the most Special Education and Teaching degrees in Illinois
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 215 | $48,358 |
| 2 | National Louis University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 165 | Not reported |
| 3 | Lewis University Romeoville Private not-for-profit | 73 | $45,831 |
| 4 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 70 | Not reported |
| 5 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 57 | $46,578 |
| 6 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 42 | $51,922 |
| 7 | Roosevelt University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 41 | Not reported |
| 8 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public | 38 | $43,955 |
| 9 | Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais Private not-for-profit | 25 | Not reported |
| 10 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public | 25 | $46,729 |
ShowHide the other 24 Illinois colleges offering Special Education and Teaching
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | Public | 55 |
| Concordia University - Chicago | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago | Public | 22 |
| Dominican University | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Loyola University Chicago | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Chicago State University | Chicago | Public | 14 |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Edwardsville | Public | 14 |
| University of St Francis | Joliet | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Trinity Christian College | Palos Heights | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Rockford University | Rockford | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Southern Illinois University - Carbondale | Carbondale | Public | 12 |
| Aurora University | Aurora | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Governors State University | University Park | Public | 6 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College | Chicago | Public | 5 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Eureka College | Eureka | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Quincy University | Quincy | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Bradley University | Peoria | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Benedictine University | Lisle | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Judson University | Elgin | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Blackburn College | Carlinville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Greenville University | Greenville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Millikin University | Decatur | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Special Education Teachers, Preschool (SOC 25-2051).
Top skills
What Special Education Teachers, Preschool earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Special Education and Teaching programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Special Education and Teaching degrees?+
Illinois State University (215 graduates a year), National Louis University (165 graduates a year) and Lewis University (73 graduates a year) award the most Special Education and Teaching degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 34 Illinois colleges offer Special Education and Teaching.
What is the best college for Special Education and Teaching in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads among bachelor's Special Education and Teaching programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,922, College Scorecard. Illinois State University and Western Illinois University follow. By degrees awarded, Illinois State University is the largest, with 215 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Special Education and Teaching program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tops the list at $51,922. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Special Education Teachers, Preschool earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool in Illinois is $67,490 (median $62,580), across about 1,080 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Special Education and Teaching program?+
The Special Education and Teaching program prepares students to work with individuals who have a range of disabilities and special needs. This program is ideal for those who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of students…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Special Education Teachers, Preschool?+
The national job outlook is about +1.4% growth with around 2,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's 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.
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