2027 Best Value Reading Teacher Education Schools in Illinois
[Reading Teacher Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/reading-teacher-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for reading teacher education students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Reading Teacher Education Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the reading teacher education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Reading Teacher Education Schools
For return on investment in reading teacher education, no school beat University Of Illinois At Chicago this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $17,125 to complete the reading teacher education program here. Early-career reading teacher education graduates make about $58,732. Set against $17,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Xavier University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in reading teacher education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,945. Students borrow a median of $27,194 to complete the reading teacher education program here. Reading Teacher Education graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $51,753 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,194 median debt. Saint Xavier University admits about 84% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in reading teacher education will find it at National Louis University, which ranked #3. National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,245. Typical student debt for reading teacher education graduates is $29,242. Early-career reading teacher education graduates make about $65,720. That is a strong return on a $29,242 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in reading teacher education will find it at Eastern Illinois University, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,377 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Typical student debt for reading teacher education graduates is $28,866. Reading Teacher Education graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $43,603 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
A rank of #5 makes Western Illinois University one of the best values for reading teacher education. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,572. Reading Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $27,639 in student loans. Soon after graduation, reading teacher education degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $50,756. That is a strong return on a $27,639 median debt. Western Illinois University admits about 71% of applicants.
University Of St Francis placed #6 among the best values for reading teacher education. Set in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,110. Reading Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $25,695 in student loans. Reading Teacher Education graduates of University Of St Francis earn a median of $59,586 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of St Francis admits about 65% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University earned the #7 position for value in reading teacher education this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Reading Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $26,746 in student loans. Early-career reading teacher education graduates make about $51,839. Set against $26,746 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern Illinois University came in at #8 for value in reading teacher education this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,383, compared with $22,726 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for reading teacher education graduates is $25,250. Soon after graduation, reading teacher education degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $77,040. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northeastern Illinois University admits about 75% of applicants.
Concordia University Chicago ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value reading teacher education schools. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $37,488. Typical student debt for reading teacher education graduates is $27,000. Early-career reading teacher education graduates make about $51,796. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Aurora University came in at #10 for value in reading teacher education this year. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,170. Reading Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $24,507 in student loans. Soon after graduation, reading teacher education degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $51,483. That is a strong return on a $24,507 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University earned the #11 position for value in reading teacher education this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Typical student debt for reading teacher education graduates is $24,149. Soon after graduation, reading teacher education degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $50,102. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Roosevelt University came in at #12 for value in reading teacher education this year. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $21,315. Typical student debt for reading teacher education graduates is $23,879. Reading Teacher Education graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of $50,101 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,879 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Olivet Nazarene University placed #13 among the best values for reading teacher education. Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,900. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the reading teacher education program here. Soon after graduation, reading teacher education degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $51,475. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University placed #14 among the best values for reading teacher education. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Typical student debt for reading teacher education graduates is $26,910. Early-career reading teacher education graduates make about $52,130. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
More Reading Teacher Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
