2027 Best Education Schools in Illinois
Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their education programs.
College Factual analyzed 49 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best education schools.
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Best Schools for Education in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall education education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Education
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, our #1 school for education. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 598 education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $51,546 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,876.
More information about a degree in education from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
A rank of #2 makes Northwestern University one of the top schools for education. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern University awarded about 70 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Northwestern University earn around $60,945 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in education from Northwestern University
University Of Illinois At Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 401 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $59,981 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,080.
More information about a degree in education from University Of Illinois At Chicago
Illinois State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 1,029 education students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $50,367 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,372 to complete this degree.
See the full education program report for Illinois State University
Students looking for a strong education program will find one at Loyola University Chicago, which ranked #5. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 181 education degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $59,860. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in education from Loyola University Chicago
Depaul University earned the #6 position for education this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 410 education degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $53,953. Typical student debt for the program is $26,921.
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Concordia University Chicago placed #7 among the best education schools. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. There were roughly 717 education students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Concordia University Chicago generally make around $65,603. Students borrow a median of $26,552 to complete this degree.
See the full education program report for Concordia University Chicago
Wheaton College Illinois ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wheaton College Illinois awarded about 60 education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $47,714 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
See the full education program report for Wheaton College Illinois
Northern Illinois University came in at #9 for education this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Dekalb. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. Northern Illinois University awarded about 586 education degrees in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $51,960 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,723 to complete this degree.
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Elmhurst College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. Elmhurst College awarded about 99 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Elmhurst College earn around $46,897 in the first couple years of their career. Elmhurst College graduates carry a median of $26,649 in student loans.
See the full education program report for Elmhurst College
University Of St Francis landed the #11 spot for education this year. University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Joliet. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 241 education degrees were awarded at University Of St Francis in the most recent year. Students who receive their education degree from University Of St Francis earn around $61,635 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,642 to complete this degree.
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Aurora University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. Located in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 258 education degrees were awarded at Aurora University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $74,575. Typical student debt for the program is $24,197.
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North Central College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Naperville. About 64% of students finish within six years. North Central College awarded about 54 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from North Central College earn around $59,044 in the first couple years of their career. North Central College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Northeastern Illinois University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 298 education students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $69,243. Northeastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $24,098 in student loans.
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Lake Forest College came in at #15 for education this year. Set in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 78% of students finish within six years. Lake Forest College awarded about 16 education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Lake Forest College generally make around $41,168. Lake Forest College graduates carry a median of $26,661 in student loans.
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College Of Dupage earned the #16 position for education this year. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. There were roughly 81 education students who graduated with this degree at College Of Dupage in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $43,025 in their early career. College Of Dupage graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans.
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Lewis University landed the #17 spot for education this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Romeoville. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 281 education students who graduated with this degree at Lewis University in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $47,580 early in their careers. Lewis University graduates carry a median of $25,377 in student loans.
More information about a degree in education from Lewis University
Illinois College landed the #18 spot for education this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Jacksonville. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Illinois College awarded about 13 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Illinois College earn around $41,184 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,922.
Read more about the education program at Illinois College
Harper College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 59 education students who graduated with this degree at Harper College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $44,523 in their early career. Harper College graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans.
See the full education program report for Harper College
Elgin Community College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. Elgin Community College awarded about 51 education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete this degree.
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Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #21 spot for education this year. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 261 education degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent year. Students who receive their education degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn around $50,318 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,537 to complete this degree.
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Olivet Nazarene University came in at #22 for education this year. Located in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 61% of students finish within six years. Olivet Nazarene University awarded about 231 education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $52,065. Olivet Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $26,994 in student loans.
See the full education program report for Olivet Nazarene University
Governors State University placed #23 among the best education schools. Set in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 21% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 133 education students who graduated with this degree at Governors State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Governors State University generally make around $62,106. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
See the full education program report for Governors State University
Bradley University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. About 76% of students finish within six years. Bradley University awarded about 93 education degrees in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $43,891 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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North Park University placed #25 among the best education schools. Located in the city of Chicago, North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. North Park University awarded about 98 education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from North Park University generally make around $46,252. North Park University graduates carry a median of $27,360 in student loans.
See the full education program report for North Park University
Rest of the Top 49 Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s education ranking:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 49 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.