2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2019-2020, 29,936 people earned their degree in general education, making the major the 35th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, general education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,138 and had an average of $29,674 in loans still to pay off.
Across Illinois, there were 423 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $46,475 and $26,209 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 307 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,267 and $46,814 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 11 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general education programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general education program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
Featured schools near , edit
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois master’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 11 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 169 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
UIUC also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign General Education Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Saint Xavier University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 2 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
SXU also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #9. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SXU are $15,450.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northern Illinois University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 16 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at NIU, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about General Education at Northern Illinois University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Illinois University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 14 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
WIU also took the #7 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Illinois University are $11,996, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Elmhurst University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Elmhurst University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Elmhurst, Illinois. It awarded 10 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Elmhurst also took the #2 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Elmhurst University are $32,300, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
McKendree University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. McKendree University is a small school located in Lebanon, Illinois that handed out 27 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
McKendree also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at McKendree are $9,324, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Quincy University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Quincy University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Quincy, Illinois. It awarded 20 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Quincy U also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Quincy U are $12,000.
Concordia University, Chicago ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in River Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 5 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Concordia University, Chicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Concordia University, Chicago are $9,378, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about General Education at Concordia University, Chicago
Greenville University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Greenville University is a small school located in Greenville, Illinois that handed out 2 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Greenville not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Greenville are $8,082, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on General Education at Greenville University
North Park University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. North Park is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, North Park has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at North Park are $14,076, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #11, Rockford University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Rockford is a small school located in Rockford, Illinois that handed out 11 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Rockford also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #6. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Rockford University are $13,255.
Narrow Results by State
- Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
- Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $0-$30k)
Switch to a More General Major
Switch to a Similar Major
Multilingual Education
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Multilingual Education (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
Educational Administration
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Educational Administration (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
Educational Assessment
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Educational Assessment (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
Education Philosophy
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Education Philosophy (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
Student Counseling
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Student Counseling (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
Teacher Education Subject Specific
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Teacher Education Subject Specific (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
Other Education
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Other Education (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
Curriculum & Instruction
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Curriculum & Instruction (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
Instructional Media Design
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Instructional Media Design (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
International Education
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for International Education (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
Special Education
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Special Education (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
Teacher Education Grade Specific
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Teacher Education Grade Specific (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
Teaching English or French
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Teaching English or French (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
Switch to a More Focused Major
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Best General Education Master's Degree Schools in Illinois
General Education students in the state of Illinois
Most Focused Master's Degree Colleges for General Education in Illinois
General Education students in Illinois
Most Popular Master's Degree Online General Education Schools
General Education students in Illinois
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
General Education students with family income less than $30k in Illinois
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois
General Education students with family income $48-$75k in Illinois
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Education (Income Over $110k) in Illinois
General Education students with family income exceeding $110k in Illinois
Highest Paid Master's Degree General Education Graduates in Illinois
General Education students in Illinois
Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for General Education in Illinois
General Education students in Illinois
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Education in Illinois (With Aid)
General Education students getting aid in Illinois
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois
General Education students with family income $30-$48k in Illinois
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois
General Education students with family income $75-$110k in Illinois
Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to KOKUYO.
Featured Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |
College Factual provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© College Factual – All Rights Reserved.
