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2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

16 Ranked Colleges
423 Degrees Awarded
$16,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this 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.

This year’s “Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 16 colleges that offered a degree in general education. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general education programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general education program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 16 Best Value Colleges for General Education (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 197 ’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $8,464 for Illinois Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Education at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#2

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Saint Xavier University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Saint Xavier University is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 2 ’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

SXU also made our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $11,962 for Illinois Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Saint Xavier University.

Read more about General Education at Saint Xavier University

#3

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Western Illinois University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. Western Illinois University is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WIU, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Illinois University is $14,526 for illinois education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Western Illinois University General Education Report

#4

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lake Forest College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. Lake Forest College is a small school located in Lake Forest, Illinois that handed out 11 ’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lake Forest, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $19,152 for Illinois Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Lake Forest College.

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

Read more about General Education at Lake Forest College

#5

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Illinois University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northern Illinois University is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NIU, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for NIU is $15,861 for Illinois Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Education at Northern Illinois University

#6

Illinois College

Jacksonville, Illinois

Illinois College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Illinois College is a small school located in Jacksonville, Illinois that handed out 2 ’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $12,454 for Illinois Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Illinois College.

Read full report on General Education at Illinois College

#7

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois

Elmhurst University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Elmhurst is located in Elmhurst, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

Elmhurst did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Elmhurst University is $17,837 for Illinois Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%.

Read full report on General Education at Elmhurst

#8

Concordia University, Chicago

River Forest, Illinois

Concordia University, Chicago ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. 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 12 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Concordia University, Chicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Concordia University, Chicago is $15,406 for illinois education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Education at Concordia University, Chicago

#9

Greenville University

Greenville, Illinois

Greenville University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. This small school is located in Greenville, Illinois, and it awarded 6 ’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Greenville not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Greenville University is $19,258 for Illinois Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

Full Greenville General Education Report

#10

McKendree University

Lebanon, Illinois

McKendree University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. McKendree is a small school located in Lebanon, Illinois that handed out 37 ’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at McKendree, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $16,659 for illinois education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend McKendree University.

Full McKendree University General Education Report

#11

Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington, Illinois

Illinois Wesleyan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Illinois Wesleyan is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bloomington, Illinois. It awarded 2 ’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois Wesleyan also made our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $19,857 for illinois education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Illinois Wesleyan University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Education at Illinois Wesleyan

#12

Quincy University

Quincy, Illinois

Quincy University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Quincy, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Quincy U, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $17,518 for Illinois Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Quincy University.

Read more about General Education at Quincy University

#13

North Park University

Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #13, North Park University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 1 ’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

North Park also made our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $17,270 for Illinois Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend North Park.

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

Full North Park General Education Report

#14

Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights, Illinois

Trinity Christian College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. This small school is located in Palos Heights, Illinois, and it awarded 3 ’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Trinity Christian did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $19,918 for Illinois Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Trinity Christian College.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Education at Trinity Christian

#15

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois

Roosevelt University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 9 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Roosevelt has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Roosevelt University is $20,330 for Illinois Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Education at Roosevelt University

#16

Rockford University

Rockford, Illinois

Rockford University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Rockford, Illinois, and it awarded 11 ’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Rockford also made our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $20,380 for Illinois Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Rockford.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on General Education at Rockford University

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.

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