Best colleges for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Illinois Chicago, Loyola University Chicago and Elmhurst University are the top bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. University of Illinois Chicago leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $60,917, College Scorecard. National Louis University, Illinois State University and Northern Illinois University award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Illinois: 702, 467 and 192 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 51 Illinois colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development and award 3,727 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Teacher Education and Professional Development program, specifically focusing on various levels and methods, prepares individuals for careers in education. This program is designed for those who aspire to teach or work in educational…
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 Chicago Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree | $60,917 | 132 | 62% | — | $16,750 |
| 2 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $55,652 | 74 | 73% | $33,454 | $25,000 |
| 3 | Elmhurst University Elmhurst Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,105 | 33 | 70% | $20,794 | $24,064 |
| 4 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,038 | 162 | 85% | — | $19,500 |
| 5 | Wheaton College Wheaton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,714 | 35 | 85% | $23,461 | $25,000 |
| 6 | Roosevelt University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,134 | 55 | 35% | $21,085 | $25,000 |
| 7 | Saint Xavier University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,377 | 85 | 57% | $12,935 | $29,854 |
| 8 | North Park University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,168 | 34 | 58% | $18,494 | — |
| 9 | Dominican University River Forest Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,924 | 68 | 55% | $16,176 | $27,000 |
| 10 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,898 | 467 | 65% | — | $22,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Teacher Education and Professional Development 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 | National Louis University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 702 | $40,484 |
| 2 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 467 | $44,898 |
| 3 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 192 | $44,214 |
| 4 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public | 170 | $40,544 |
| 5 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 162 | $48,038 |
| 6 | Lewis University Romeoville Private not-for-profit | 147 | $41,130 |
| 7 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 132 | $60,917 |
| 8 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public | 105 | $38,830 |
| 9 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 99 | $43,326 |
| 10 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public | 92 | $41,582 |
ShowHide the other 41 Illinois colleges offering Teacher Education and Professional Development
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | Public | 122 |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 85 |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | Public | 81 |
| Aurora University | Aurora | Private not-for-profit | 77 |
| Loyola University Chicago | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 74 |
| Southern Illinois University - Carbondale | Carbondale | Public | 69 |
| Dominican University | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 68 |
| McKendree University | Lebanon | Private not-for-profit | 65 |
| Concordia University - Chicago | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 58 |
| Roosevelt University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 55 |
| Governors State University | University Park | Public | 52 |
| Elgin Community College | Elgin | Public | 51 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais | Private not-for-profit | 47 |
| Erikson Institute (Graduate only) | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 46 |
| Bradley University | Peoria | Private not-for-profit | 41 |
| Rockford University | Rockford | Private not-for-profit | 41 |
| Chicago State University | Chicago | Public | 37 |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton | Private not-for-profit | 35 |
| North Park University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 34 |
| University of Illinois Springfield | Springfield | Public | 34 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | Private not-for-profit | 33 |
| Greenville University | Greenville | Private not-for-profit | 33 |
| Millikin University | Decatur | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| University of St Francis | Joliet | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Trinity Christian College | Palos Heights | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Blackburn College | Carlinville | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Knox College | Galesburg | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Stautzenberger College - Rockford Career College | Rockford | Private for-profit | 16 |
| Judson University | Elgin | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| North Central College | Naperville | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Quincy University | Quincy | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Augustana College | Rock Island | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Benedictine University | Lisle | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Highland Community College | Freeport | Public | 9 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Eureka College | Eureka | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Trinity International University - Illinois | Deerfield | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Monmouth College | Monmouth | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine | Public | 3 |
| Parkland College | Champaign | Public | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2011).
Top skills
What Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees?+
National Louis University (702 graduates a year), Illinois State University (467 graduates a year) and Northern Illinois University (192 graduates a year) award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 51 Illinois colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development.
What is the best college for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, University of Illinois Chicago leads among bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $60,917, College Scorecard. Loyola University Chicago and Elmhurst University follow. By degrees awarded, National Louis University is the largest, with 702 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Teacher Education and Professional Development program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Illinois Chicago tops the list at $60,917. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in Illinois is $45,150 (median $40,910), across about 22,420 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Teacher Education and Professional Development program?+
The Teacher Education and Professional Development program, specifically focusing on various levels and methods, prepares individuals for careers in education. This program is designed for those who aspire to teach or work in educational…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, learning strategies, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education?+
The national job outlook is about +4.1% growth with around 65,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Associate'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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