2026 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois
[Curriculum & Instruction](/majors/education/curriculum-instruction/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 26 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value curriculum & instruction schools.
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2026 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
Northern Illinois University earned the #1 spot for value among curriculum & instruction schools in Illinois. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. 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. The acceptance rate is 70%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in curriculum & instruction, landing the #2 spot this year. 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, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a great value for students pursuing a degree in curriculum & instruction, landing the #3 spot this year. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $23,917 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $54,302. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits about 98% of applicants.
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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,377, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $24,293. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $49,117 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
National Louis University came in at #5 on our 2026 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. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $29,242 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from National Louis University generally make around $61,839. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of St Francis placed #6 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Located in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,110. Students borrow a median of $25,695 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from University Of St Francis generally make around $66,085. Set against $25,695 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Concordia University Chicago earned the #7 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,488. Students borrow a median of $26,956 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $67,571. Set against $26,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Aurora University placed #8 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Located in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,170. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $24,507 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. Set against $24,507 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Illinois State University came in at #9 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Students borrow a median of $21,896 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $57,175. Set against $21,896 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Olivet Nazarene University earned the #10 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Located in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,900. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $26,797 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $62,530. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Olivet Nazarene University admits about 56% of applicants.
Mckendree University landed the #11 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Located in the suburb of Lebanon, Mckendree University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,740. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $24,362 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Mckendree University generally make around $65,396. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mckendree University admits about 72% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago placed #12 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $58,568. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
