2027 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois
[Curriculum & Instruction](/majors/education/curriculum-instruction/curriculum-and-instruction/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for curriculum & instruction students.
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2027 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in curriculum & instruction, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools
For return on investment in curriculum & instruction, no school beat University Of Illinois At Chicago this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $61,829 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
National Louis University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,245. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $29,242. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of National Louis University earn a median of $61,839 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of St Francis one of the best values for curriculum & instruction. Set in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,110. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $25,695. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $66,085. That is a strong return on a $25,695 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in curriculum & instruction will find it at Eastern Illinois University, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,377 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,859 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,293 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $49,117. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
A rank of #5 makes Northern Illinois University one of the best values for curriculum & instruction. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Students borrow a median of $25,209 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $52,308. Set against $25,209 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #6 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $20,778. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #7 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,092. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $23,917 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $54,302. Set against $23,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits about 98% of applicants.
Lewis University placed #8 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,200 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,838 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $55,718. Set against $24,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Concordia University Chicago earned the #9 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. Students from in state pay about $37,488 in tuition and fees. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $26,956 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Concordia University Chicago generally make around $67,571. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Aurora University landed the #10 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,170. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $24,507 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $51,483. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Aurora University admits about 81% of applicants.
Illinois State University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $21,896. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $57,175 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Olivet Nazarene University landed the #12 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Set in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,900 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,797 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $62,530. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Mckendree University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Mckendree University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lebanon. In-state tuition and fees average $34,740. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $24,362. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Mckendree University earn a median of $65,396 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mckendree University admits about 72% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
More Curriculum & Instruction Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
