2022 Best Value Colleges for Education (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.
Education is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 4th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 310,601 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $43,887 and had an average of $30,244 in loans still to pay off.
Across Illinois, there were 10,069 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $45,178 and $28,378 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 52 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality 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 education program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Education (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Northwestern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 106 ’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Education Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern is $1,866 for illinois education students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. UChicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 48 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UChicago also made our “Best Education Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $2,712 for Illinois Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UChicago.
The low student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 528 ’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois education students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIUC has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $5,477 for illinois education students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Education Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 315 ’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Education Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend UIC is $10,648 for illinois education students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Out of the 52 schools in the Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #5 spot on the list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 330 ’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
SIUC also took the #8 spot in our “Best Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $13,658 for Illinois Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SIUC.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. SIUE is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 225 ’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $8,055 for Illinois Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SIUE.
With a ranking of #7, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school handed out 945 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Illinois State has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $14,470 for Illinois Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Illinois State University.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Northern Illinois University is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 528 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for NIU is $15,281 for Illinois Education students whose families make $0-$30k.
Saint Xavier University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SXU is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 95 ’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend SXU is $11,266 for Illinois Education students whose families make $0-$30k.
Governors State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in University Park, Illinois, and it awarded 74 ’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for GSU is $10,872 for Illinois Education students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a ranking of #11, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 335 students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for EIU is $12,350 for illinois education students whose families make $0-$30k.
University of St Francis ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k 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 285 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
University of Saint Francis also took the #12 spot in our “Best Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $15,847 for Illinois Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of St Francis.
The low student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.
With a ranking of #13, Lewis University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Romeoville, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 222 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2019-2020.
Lewis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Education Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lewis is $12,821 for illinois education students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low 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%.
Aurora University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. This medium-sized school is located in Aurora, Illinois, and it awarded 251 ’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Aurora has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $14,103 for Illinois Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Aurora.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Western Illinois University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Western Illinois University is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 282 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $13,942 for Illinois Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Western Illinois University.
University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Springfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 41 students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Springfield is $9,771 for illinois education students whose families make $0-$30k.
Wheaton College Illinois came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Wheaton College Illinois is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Wheaton, Illinois. It awarded 72 ’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Wheaton College Illinois also took the #10 spot in our “Best Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wheaton College Illinois is $18,440 for illinois education students whose families make $0-$30k.
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. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Augustana College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Rock Island, Illinois, and it awarded 44 ’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Augustana, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Augustana College is $20,355 for Illinois Education students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Lake Forest College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lake Forest College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lake Forest, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lake Forest, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $18,192 for illinois education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lake Forest.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
National Louis University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 922 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $14,178 for Illinois Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend NLU.
Illinois College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Jacksonville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $11,376 for illinois education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Illinois College.
With a ranking of #22, Millikin University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Millikin University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Decatur, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 62 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Millikin also made our “Best Education Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #21. The estimated yearly cost for Millikin is $17,656 for Illinois Education students whose families make $0-$30k.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Elmhurst University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Elmhurst, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 92 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2019-2020.
Elmhurst did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Education Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $16,903 for illinois education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Elmhurst.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Olivet Nazarene University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. Bourbonnais, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 516 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Olivet Nazarene has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Olivet Nazarene University is $15,806 for Illinois Education students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Northeastern Illinois University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 351 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $14,816 for Illinois Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northeastern Illinois University.
Read more about Education at Northeastern Illinois University
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- Best Value Colleges for Education (Income $0-$30k)
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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.
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