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2026 Best Value Learning Sciences Schools in Illinois

[Learning Sciences](/majors/education/educational-assessment/learning-sciences/) 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 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for learning sciences students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Learning Sciences Schools in Illinois

2026 Best Value Learning Sciences Schools in Illinois

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in learning sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Learning Sciences Schools

1

University Of Illinois At Chicago
Chicago, IL

$15,949 In-State Tuition & Fees

$20,115 Avg Student Debt

$68,740 Median Earnings (10yr)

University Of Illinois At Chicago tops our 2026 list of the best value learning sciences schools in Illinois. 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. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete the learning sciences program here. Learning Sciences 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.

2

Northwestern University
Evanston, IL

$68,322 In-State Tuition & Fees

$16,616 Avg Student Debt

$89,363 Median Earnings (10yr)

Northwestern University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in learning sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the learning sciences program here. Early-career learning sciences graduates make about $78,551. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.

View All Learning Sciences Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 4 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.