2026 Best Value English & Language Arts Education Schools in Illinois

[English & Language Arts Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/english-language-arts-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value english & language arts education schools.
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2026 Best Value English & Language Arts Education Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the english & language arts education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value English & Language Arts Education Schools
For return on investment in english & language arts education, no school beat University Of Illinois At Chicago this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english & language arts education graduates is $17,125. Soon after graduation, english & language arts education degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $58,732. Set against $17,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Millikin University earned it the #2 place for english & language arts education. Located in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $26,792 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the english & language arts education program here. English & Language Arts Education graduates of Millikin University earn a median of $43,936 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Millikin University admits about 67% of applicants.
Saint Xavier University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value english & language arts education schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,945. Students borrow a median of $27,194 to complete the english & language arts education program here. Early-career english & language arts education graduates make about $46,835. That is a strong return on a $27,194 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
A rank of #4 makes Augustana College Illinois one of the best values for english & language arts education. Located in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,598. English & Language Arts Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. English & Language Arts Education graduates of Augustana College Illinois earn a median of $45,145 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a great value for students pursuing a degree in english & language arts education, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. English & Language Arts Education graduates carry a median of $21,182 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english & language arts education degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $51,816. That is a strong return on a $21,182 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of St Francis earned the #6 position for value in english & language arts education this year. Located in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,110. English & Language Arts Education graduates carry a median of $25,695 in student loans. Early-career english & language arts education graduates make about $59,586. Set against $25,695 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of St Francis admits about 65% of applicants.
Trinity Christian College placed #7 among the best values for english & language arts education. Located in the suburb of Palos Heights, Trinity Christian College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,605. English & Language Arts Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. English & Language Arts Education graduates of Trinity Christian College earn a median of $44,538 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Concordia University Chicago placed #8 among the best values for english & language arts education. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,488. English & Language Arts Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career english & language arts education graduates make about $51,796. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Monmouth College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value english & language arts education schools. Located in the town of Monmouth, Monmouth College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $44,922 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,444 to complete the english & language arts education program here. English & Language Arts Education graduates of Monmouth College earn a median of $36,675 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,444 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Elmhurst College earned the #10 position for value in english & language arts education this year. Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elmhurst. Students from in state pay about $42,955 in tuition and fees. English & Language Arts Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. English & Language Arts Education graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of $46,789 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Elmhurst College admits about 74% of applicants.
Olivet Nazarene University came in at #11 for value in english & language arts education this year. Located in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,900. English & Language Arts Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career english & language arts education graduates make about $51,475. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Olivet Nazarene University admits about 56% of applicants.
Blackburn College earned the #12 position for value in english & language arts education this year. Set in the town of Carlinville, Blackburn College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,149. English & Language Arts Education graduates carry a median of $25,255 in student loans. English & Language Arts Education graduates of Blackburn College earn a median of $33,739 early in their careers. Set against $25,255 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Bradley University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value english & language arts education schools. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,160. English & Language Arts Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english & language arts education degree recipients from Bradley University generally make around $42,917. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bradley University admits about 77% of applicants.
Depaul University placed #14 among the best values for english & language arts education. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. English & Language Arts Education graduates carry a median of $26,910 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english & language arts education degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $52,130. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.
- 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.