2027 Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools in Illinois
[General Educational Leadership & Administration](/majors/education/educational-administration/educational-leadership-and-administration-general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general educational leadership & administration students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general educational leadership & administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools
For return on investment in general educational leadership & administration, no school beat Governors State University this year. Set in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,004. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $24,990 in student loans. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Governors State University earn a median of $80,009 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Governors State University admits about 48% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Springfield earned it the #2 place for general educational leadership & administration. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,557, while out-of-state students pay about $20,139. Students borrow a median of $24,925 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $60,442. That is a strong return on a $24,925 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Students looking for strong value in general educational leadership & administration will find it at National Louis University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,245. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $29,242 in student loans. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $87,412. Set against $29,242 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Eastern Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general educational leadership & administration, landing the #4 spot this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $15,859. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $24,293 in student loans. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $67,396. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Illinois University earned it the #5 place for general educational leadership & administration. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,572. Students borrow a median of $27,639 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $113,839 early in their careers. Set against $27,639 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Chicago State University came in at #6 for value in general educational leadership & administration this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Chicago State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,754 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,757 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $43,322 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $47,477. Set against $43,322 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 43%.
University Of St Francis earned the #7 position for value in general educational leadership & administration this year. 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. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $25,695 in student loans. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $88,450. Set against $25,695 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of St Francis admits about 65% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University landed the #8 spot for general educational leadership & administration value this year. 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 general educational leadership & administration program here. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $63,264. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Northeastern Illinois University landed the #9 spot for general educational leadership & administration value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,383, compared with $22,726 for out-of-state students. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $17,600 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $82,842. That is a strong return on a $17,600 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #10 among the best values for general educational leadership & administration. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Students borrow a median of $23,730 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $43,161. Set against $23,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #11 spot for general educational leadership & administration value this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,092. Students borrow a median of $23,917 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $46,568 early in their careers. Set against $23,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Lewis University earned the #12 position for value in general educational leadership & administration this year. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,200. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $24,838 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Lewis University generally make around $55,718. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Concordia University Chicago placed #13 among the best values for general educational leadership & administration. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,488. Students borrow a median of $26,956 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Concordia University Chicago earn a median of $91,059 early in their careers. Set against $26,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Aurora University came in at #14 for value in general educational leadership & administration this year. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $29,170 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,507 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $90,978 early in their careers. Set against $24,507 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University earned the #15 position for value in general educational leadership & administration this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $21,896 in student loans. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $89,114 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
North Central College earned the #16 position for value in general educational leadership & administration this year. North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Naperville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,726. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $25,699 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from North Central College generally make around $81,014. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Bradley University came in at #17 for value in general educational leadership & administration this year. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,160. Typical student debt for general educational leadership & administration graduates is $26,380. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $58,338. That is a strong return on a $26,380 median debt. Bradley University admits about 77% of applicants.
Northwestern University placed #18 among the best values for general educational leadership & administration. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Depaul University earned the #19 position for value in general educational leadership & administration this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $25,340 in student loans. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $68,961 early in their careers. Set against $25,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago placed #20 among the best values for general educational leadership & administration. 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. Typical student debt for general educational leadership & administration graduates is $23,521. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $55,802 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
More General Educational Leadership & Administration Rankings
View All General Educational Leadership & Administration Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
