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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Education (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

42 Ranked Colleges
5,348 Degrees Awarded
$20,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Education Schools for a Master's in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

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 for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

With 310,601 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, education is the 4th most popular major in the United States. 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 5,348 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 $30-$48k” ranking looked at 42 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great education programs and cost less that 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.

More Ways to Rank Education Schools

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 Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. 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 Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

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

Top 25 Best Value Master’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 Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 74 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Northwestern University Education Report

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 37 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548.

Full UChicago Education Report

#3 in overall quality

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 #3 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 278 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UIUC Education Report

#7 in overall quality

Out of the 42 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’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. University of Illinois at Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 166 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best 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 UIC are $27,036.

Read more about Education at University of Illinois at Chicago

#5

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
#16 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of St Francis. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. This small school is located in Joliet, Illinois, and it awarded 226 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Saint Francis also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #16. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of St Francis are $13,839.

Read more about Education at University of Saint Francis

University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UIS is a public institution located in Springfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 25 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UIS are $16,757, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UIS Education Report

#7

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Eastern Illinois University is a public institution located in Charleston, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 164 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at EIU are $20,761, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Education at Eastern Illinois University

With a ranking of #8, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 84 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Education Report

#9

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#18 in overall quality

Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. NIU is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 296 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NIU, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Illinois University are $11,086, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Education at NIU

#10

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois

Governors State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. GSU is a small public school situated in University Park, Illinois. It awarded 23 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Governors State University are $14,674, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Education at Governors State University

#11

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois
#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Saint Xavier University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 56 diplomas to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SXU, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best 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 SXU are $15,450.

Read full report on Education at SXU

#12

Aurora University

Aurora, Illinois
#20 in overall quality

Aurora University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Aurora is located in Aurora, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 156 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Aurora, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best 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 Aurora are $13,200.

Read full report on Education at Aurora University

#13

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#24 in overall quality

Western Illinois University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Macomb, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 186 students in 2019-2020.

WIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at WIU are $11,996.

Full Western Illinois University Education Report

#14

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Olivet Nazarene University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois, and it awarded 340 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Olivet Nazarene, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best 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 Olivet Nazarene are $13,393.

Full Olivet Nazarene University Education Report

#23 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 52 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUC also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #23. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Education at SIUC

#16

Lewis University

Romeoville, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

Lewis University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Lewis is located in Romeoville, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 129 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

Lewis also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #15. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Lewis University are $14,780.

Read full report on Education at Lewis

#17

Concordia University, Chicago

River Forest, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

Concordia University, Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in River Forest, Illinois. It awarded 844 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Concordia University, Chicago, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Concordia University, Chicago are $9,378, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Concordia University, Chicago Education Report

Northeastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. Northeastern Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 280 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern Illinois University are $17,032, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Education at Northeastern Illinois University

#19

National Louis University

Chicago, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

National Louis University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #19. National Louis University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 611 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

NLU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NLU are $12,096.

Full NLU Education Report

#20

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

Illinois State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. Illinois State University is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 145 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State are $11,069, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Education at Illinois State

#21

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, Lake Forest College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Lake Forest College is a small school located in Lake Forest, Illinois that handed out 10 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Lake Forest has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best 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 Lake Forest are $14,896.

Full Lake Forest College Education Report

#22

Dominican University

River Forest, Illinois

Dominican University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. River Forest, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 57 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Dominican U are $20,884, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Education at Dominican University

#23

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#22 in overall quality

Elmhurst University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s 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 14 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Elmhurst, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Elmhurst are $32,300, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Elmhurst University Education Report

#24

North Park University

Chicago, Illinois
#19 in overall quality

North Park University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. North Park University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 52 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Park, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best 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 North Park University are $14,076.

Read more about Education at North Park University

#25

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

Bradley University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Peoria, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 26 students in 2019-2020.

Bradley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Bradley University are $17,040.

Full Bradley Education Report

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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.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Horadrim.

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