2027 Best Value Elementary Education Schools in Illinois
[Elementary Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/elementary-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 39 schools to find the best return on investment for elementary education students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Elementary Education Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in elementary education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Elementary Education Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #1 spot for value among elementary education schools in Illinois. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $16,750. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $65,587. Set against $16,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in elementary education will find it at University Of Illinois At Springfield, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,557, with out-of-state students paying around $20,139. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $24,925. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Springfield generally make around $44,458. That is a strong return on a $24,925 median debt. University Of Illinois At Springfield admits about 86% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Saint Xavier University one of the best values for elementary education. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,945. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $29,854 in student loans. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Saint Xavier University generally make around $49,526. That is a strong return on a $29,854 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in elementary education will find it at Dominican University, which ranked #4. Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. In-state tuition and fees average $38,828. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Dominican University generally make around $45,924. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Students looking for strong value in elementary education will find it at Governors State University, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,004. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $21,500. Elementary Education graduates of Governors State University earn a median of $45,235 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Eastern Illinois University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,377, compared with $15,859 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $22,075. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $41,582. Set against $22,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #7 spot for elementary education value this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the elementary education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $50,601. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University placed #8 among the best values for elementary education. 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. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the elementary education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $44,214. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
National Louis University came in at #9 for value in elementary education this year. Set in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $42,172. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from National Louis University generally make around $47,995. That is a strong return on a $42,172 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Western Illinois University placed #10 among the best values for elementary 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. Students borrow a median of $25,133 to complete the elementary education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $47,352. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
University Of St Francis came in at #11 for value in elementary education this year. 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. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $23,878. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $43,864. That is a strong return on a $23,878 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #12 among the best values for elementary education. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Students borrow a median of $21,944 to complete the elementary education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $39,496. That is a strong return on a $21,944 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern Illinois University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,383 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,726. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $15,612 in student loans. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $51,301. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Chicago State University earned the #14 position for value in elementary education this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Chicago State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,754, compared with $12,757 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $53,774. Elementary Education graduates of Chicago State University earn a median of $47,477 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Chicago State University admits about 43% of applicants.
Lewis University earned the #15 position for value in elementary education this year. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,200. Elementary Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $46,503. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lewis University admits about 71% of applicants.
North Park University came in at #16 for value in elementary education this year. Set in the city of Chicago, North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $36,710 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $27,360. Elementary Education graduates of North Park University earn a median of $46,168 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,360 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #17 position for value in elementary education this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete the elementary education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $38,830. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits about 98% of applicants.
Concordia University Chicago earned the #18 position for value in elementary education this year. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,488. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the elementary education program here. Elementary Education graduates of Concordia University Chicago earn a median of $51,004 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Concordia University Chicago admits about 93% of applicants.
Illinois State University came in at #19 for value in elementary education this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $22,500. Elementary Education graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $44,898 early in their careers. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Aurora University came in at #20 for value in elementary education this year. Located in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,170. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $24,197. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $54,551. Set against $24,197 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Aurora University admits about 81% of applicants.
Blackburn College came in at #21 for value in elementary education this year. Set in the town of Carlinville, Blackburn College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $28,149 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,255 to complete the elementary education program here. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $33,739. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Trinity Christian College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Trinity Christian College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Palos Heights. Students from in state pay about $20,605 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Trinity Christian College generally make around $45,968. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Trinity Christian College admits about 85% of applicants.
Roosevelt University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,315. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $25,000. Early-career elementary education graduates make about $56,418. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Greenville College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Greenville College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Greenville. In-state tuition and fees average $32,200. Typical student debt for elementary education graduates is $22,103. Elementary Education graduates of Greenville College earn a median of $36,911 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,103 median debt. Greenville College admits about 98% of applicants.
Olivet Nazarene University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value elementary education schools. Located in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,900. Students borrow a median of $26,951 to complete the elementary education program here. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $44,072. Set against $26,951 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Olivet Nazarene University admits about 56% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 39 Best Value Elementary Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s elementary education value ranking:
More Elementary Education Rankings
View All Elementary Education Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 39 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.
