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2024 Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois

18 Ranked Colleges
1,019 Degrees Awarded
$18,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 19,832 people earned their degree in curriculum & instruction, making the major the 55th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, curriculum & instruction graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $50,993 and had an average of $28,557 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 1,019 curriculum & instruction graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,808 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois” ranking, we looked at 18 colleges that offer a degree in curriculum & instruction. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality curriculum & instruction programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the curriculum & instruction program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Curriculum & Instruction Schools

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois curriculum students.

Top 18 Best Value Colleges for Curriculum & Instruction in Illinois

1
Concordia University, Chicago crest
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Concordia University, Chicago. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois. Concordia University, Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in River Forest, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 145 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Concordia University, Chicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $17,051 for Illinois Curriculum students per year to attend Concordia University, Chicago.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Concordia University, Chicago Curriculum & Instruction Report

2
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Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Illinois State University. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois list. Illinois State is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 51 ’s curriculum degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our illinois curriculum students list, Illinois State has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $20,830 for Illinois Curriculum students per year to attend Illinois State University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Illinois State University Curriculum & Instruction Report

3
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McKendree University
Lebanon, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend McKendree University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois. McKendree is a small school located in Lebanon, Illinois that handed out 21 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our illinois curriculum students list, McKendree has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for McKendree is $19,956 for illinois curriculum students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full McKendree Curriculum & Instruction Report

4

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 41 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $14,321 for Illinois Curriculum students per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UIUC Curriculum & Instruction Report

5
University of Saint Francis crest
University of St Francis
Joliet, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of St Francis. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois list. University of St Francis is a private not-for-profit institution located in Joliet, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 207 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

University of Saint Francis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $17,102 for Illinois Curriculum students per year to attend University of St Francis.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at University of St Francis

6
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National Louis University
Chicago, Illinois

National Louis University did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #6. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s curriculum degrees to 222 students in 2020-2021.

NLU also took the #2 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend National Louis University is $14,584 for illinois curriculum students.

Full NLU Curriculum & Instruction Report

7
Olivet Nazarene crest
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois

Olivet Nazarene University landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois ranking. Bourbonnais, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s curriculum degrees to 120 students in 2020-2021.

Olivet Nazarene did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $19,470 for Illinois Curriculum students per year to attend Olivet Nazarene University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at Olivet Nazarene

8

Northern Illinois University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois ranking. Northern Illinois University is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s curriculum degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NIU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northern Illinois University is $13,956 for illinois curriculum students.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at NIU

9
Aurora crest
Aurora University
Aurora, Illinois

Aurora University landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in Aurora, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 13 degrees to qualified ’s curriculum students in 2020-2021.

Aurora also took the #9 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Aurora University is $16,994 for illinois curriculum students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Aurora Curriculum & Instruction Report

10

With a ranking of #10, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois list. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s curriculum degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUC, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SIUC is $16,285 for Illinois Curriculum students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

11
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DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #11. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s curriculum degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.

DePaul also took the #4 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend DePaul is $31,174 for Illinois Curriculum students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at DePaul University

12
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

With a ranking of #12, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois list. This medium-sized school is located in Charleston, Illinois, and it awarded 55 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

EIU also made our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend EIU is $13,098 for illinois curriculum students.

Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at EIU

13
North Central crest
North Central College
Naperville, Illinois

With a ranking of #13, North Central College did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois list. Naperville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s curriculum degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our illinois curriculum students list, North Central has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $25,199 for illinois curriculum students per year to attend North Central College.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full North Central College Curriculum & Instruction Report

13
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Lewis University
Romeoville, Illinois

Lewis University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois list. Lewis University is a medium-sized school located in Romeoville, Illinois that handed out 21 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our illinois curriculum students list, Lewis has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lewis is $19,074 for illinois curriculum students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Lewis University Curriculum & Instruction Report

15

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois ranking. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s curriculum degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

SIUE also took the #16 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $14,462 for illinois curriculum students.

Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at SIUE

16

Northeastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #16. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 5 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

Northeastern Illinois University also made our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for Northeastern Illinois University is $14,590 for illinois curriculum students.

Full Northeastern Illinois University Curriculum & Instruction Report

17

University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #17. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UIC also took the #15 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIC is $13,214 for Illinois Curriculum students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UIC Curriculum & Instruction Report

18
Rockford crest
Rockford University
Rockford, Illinois

Rockford University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Curriculum Schools in Illinois list. Located in Rockford, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 10 degrees to qualified ’s curriculum students in 2020-2021.

Rockford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $24,103 for illinois curriculum students per year to attend Rockford University.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Rockford Curriculum & Instruction Report

Notes and References

References

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