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2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

47 Ranked Colleges
3,458 Degrees Awarded
$13,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor's in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

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 Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 310,601 education students received their degree, making the major the 4th most popular in the country. 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. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 3,458 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,319 and $24,183 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 47 colleges that offered a degree 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The education school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k”.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Education (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also made our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $3,995 for illinois bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Education at Northwestern University

#2 in overall quality

Out of the 47 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 190 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also made our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $8,464 for illinois bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Education Report

#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Carbondale, Illinois, and it awarded 253 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUC, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SIUC is $14,306 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full SIUC Education Report

#7 in overall quality

Out of the 47 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school handed out 116 degrees to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIC has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $11,185 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Illinois at Chicago.

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%.

Read more about Education at UIC

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 103 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $9,938 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SIUE.

Full SIUE Education Report

#6

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois
#21 in overall quality

Eastern Illinois University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Charleston, Illinois, and it awarded 121 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

EIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $11,316 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Eastern Illinois University.

Read full report on Education at EIU

#7

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

Illinois State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Illinois State University is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 735 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Illinois State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State is $14,999 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Read more about Education at Illinois State University

#8

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois

Saint Xavier University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 37 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Saint Xavier University is $11,962 for illinois bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Education at Saint Xavier University

#9

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#18 in overall quality

Northern Illinois University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 166 students in 2019-2020.

NIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Northern Illinois University is $15,861 for illinois bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Education at NIU

#10

University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield, Illinois

University of Illinois at Springfield ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Springfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UIS is $8,323 for illinois bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UIS Education Report

#11

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois

Governors State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Governors State University is located in University Park, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 40 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Governors State University is $12,046 for illinois bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full GSU Education Report

#12

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
#20 in overall quality

University of St Francis came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of St Francis is located in Joliet, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.

University of Saint Francis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Saint Francis is $11,229 for illinois bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of St Francis Education Report

#13

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

With a ranking of #13, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Western Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 74 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for WIU is $14,526 for illinois bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Education at WIU

#13

Aurora University

Aurora, Illinois
#19 in overall quality

Aurora University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Aurora, Illinois, and it awarded 63 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Aurora not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Aurora is $13,845 for illinois bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Read more about Education at Aurora University

#15

Knox College

Galesburg, Illinois

Knox College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Knox is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Galesburg, Illinois. It awarded 20 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Knox College is $19,186 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Education at Knox

#16

Lewis University

Romeoville, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

Lewis University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Lewis is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Romeoville, Illinois. It awarded 89 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Lewis also took the #12 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lewis University is $13,377 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Read full report on Education at Lewis University

#17

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Lake Forest College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Lake Forest College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lake Forest, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lake Forest, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lake Forest is $19,152 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Full Lake Forest College Education Report

#18

Wheaton College Illinois

Wheaton, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

Wheaton College Illinois did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Wheaton, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 47 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

Wheaton College Illinois not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Wheaton College Illinois is $16,212 for illinois bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. 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%.

Read full report on Education at Wheaton College Illinois

#19

National Louis University

Chicago, Illinois
#25 in overall quality

National Louis University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 162 students in 2019-2020.

NLU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for National Louis University is $14,403 for illinois bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Education at NLU

Northeastern Illinois University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 71 degrees to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,513 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northeastern Illinois University.

Full Northeastern Illinois University Education Report

#21

Illinois College

Jacksonville, Illinois

Illinois College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. Illinois College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Jacksonville, Illinois. It awarded 12 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Illinois College is $12,454 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Education at Illinois College

#22

Dominican University

River Forest, Illinois
#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, Dominican University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Dominican U is a small private not-for-profit school situated in River Forest, Illinois. It awarded 13 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Dominican U did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $17,586 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Dominican University.

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.

Read more about Education at Dominican U

#23

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#16 in overall quality

Elmhurst University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Elmhurst is located in Elmhurst, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 77 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Elmhurst, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $17,837 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Elmhurst University.

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 more about Education at Elmhurst

#24

Concordia University, Chicago

River Forest, Illinois

With a ranking of #24, Concordia University, Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s 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 54 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Concordia University, Chicago is $15,406 for illinois bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Education at Concordia University, Chicago

#25

Millikin University

Decatur, Illinois
#17 in overall quality

Millikin University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Millikin University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Decatur, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 60 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Millikin also took the #17 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Millikin University is $17,692 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 more about Education at Millikin 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 Horadrim.

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