Best colleges for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Southern Illinois University - Carbondale, University of Illinois Chicago and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are the top bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $54,215, College Scorecard. Illinois State University, University of Illinois Chicago and Northern Illinois University award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Illinois: 214, 145 and 125 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 47 Illinois colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development and award 1,497 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Teacher Education and Professional Development program, specifically focused on subject areas, prepares individuals for careers in education by providing essential training and knowledge in various teaching disciplines. This program is…
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 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public · Bachelor's degree | $54,215 | 88 | 62% | — | $21,182 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,292 | 145 | 62% | — | $17,125 |
| 3 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,897 | 75 | 85% | — | $21,500 |
| 4 | Saint Xavier University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,835 | 40 | 57% | $12,935 | $27,194 |
| 5 | Elmhurst University Elmhurst Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,789 | 50 | 70% | $20,794 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,184 | 125 | 49% | — | $26,746 |
| 7 | Augustana College Rock Island Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,145 | 33 | 73% | $14,960 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,613 | 214 | 65% | — | $24,149 |
| 9 | Concordia University - Chicago River Forest Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,601 | 83 | 36% | $17,620 | $27,000 |
| 10 | Trinity Christian College Palos Heights Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,538 | 28 | 58% | $15,126 | $27,000 |
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 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 214 | $44,613 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 145 | $47,292 |
| 3 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 125 | $45,184 |
| 4 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 108 | $44,068 |
| 5 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public | 88 | $54,215 |
| 6 | Concordia University - Chicago River Forest Private not-for-profit | 83 | $44,601 |
| 7 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 75 | $46,897 |
| 8 | Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais Private not-for-profit | 73 | $44,032 |
| 9 | Elmhurst University Elmhurst Private not-for-profit | 50 | $46,789 |
| 10 | VanderCook College of Music Chicago Private not-for-profit | 50 | $43,100 |
ShowHide the other 37 Illinois colleges offering Teacher Education and Professional Development
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Illinois University | Macomb | Public | 44 |
| McKendree University | Lebanon | Private not-for-profit | 40 |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 40 |
| Augustana College | Rock Island | Private not-for-profit | 33 |
| University of St Francis | Joliet | Private not-for-profit | 31 |
| Trinity Christian College | Palos Heights | Private not-for-profit | 28 |
| Bradley University | Peoria | Private not-for-profit | 26 |
| Aurora University | Aurora | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Eastern Illinois University | Charleston | Public | 24 |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | Public | 23 |
| Millikin University | Decatur | Private not-for-profit | 22 |
| National Louis University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Roosevelt University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Chicago State University | Chicago | Public | 10 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Greenville University | Greenville | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Loyola University Chicago | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Monmouth College | Monmouth | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| North Central College | Naperville | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| North Park University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Rockford University | Rockford | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (Graduate only) | North Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Blackburn College | Carlinville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Governors State University | University Park | Public | 3 |
| Judson University | Elgin | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Eureka College | Eureka | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Knox College | Galesburg | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College | Chicago | Public | 1 |
| Benedictine University | Lisle | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Kaskaskia College | Centralia | Public | 1 |
| Lake Forest College | Lake Forest | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Parkland College | Champaign | Public | 1 |
| Quincy University | Quincy | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021).
Top skills
What Elementary School 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?+
Illinois State University (214 graduates a year), University of Illinois Chicago (145 graduates a year) and Northern Illinois University (125 graduates a year) award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 47 Illinois colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development.
What is the best college for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, Southern Illinois University - Carbondale leads among bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $54,215, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Chicago and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign follow. By degrees awarded, Illinois State University is the largest, with 214 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, Southern Illinois University - Carbondale tops the list at $54,215. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Illinois is $74,630 (median $75,320), across about 61,520 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 focused on subject areas, prepares individuals for careers in education by providing essential training and knowledge in various teaching disciplines. This program is…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop learning strategies, speaking, critical thinking, active listening, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?+
The national job outlook is about -2.0% growth with around 91,000 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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