Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education & Teaching is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 23 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools.
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If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, our #1 school for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 41 junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $50,601 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program will find one at Illinois State University, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Illinois State University awarded about 43 junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degrees in the most recent data year. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $44,898 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
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A rank of #3 makes Northeastern Illinois University one of the top schools for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 22%. Northeastern Illinois University awarded about 10 junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $51,301. Students borrow a median of $15,612 to complete this degree.
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Northern Illinois University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Graduates of the junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program make about $44,214 in their early career. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program will find one at Depaul University, which ranked #5. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. Depaul University awarded about 16 junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degrees in the most recent data year. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $49,111 early in their careers. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Lewis University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching schools. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Lewis University awarded about 13 junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degree recipients from Lewis University generally make around $46,503. Lewis University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Saint Xavier University came in at #7 for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching this year. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching students who graduated with this degree at Saint Xavier University in the most recent data year. Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education & Teaching graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $49,526 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,854 to complete this degree.
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National Louis University came in at #8 for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching this year. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 30% of students finish within six years. About 37 junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degrees were awarded at National Louis University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degree recipients from National Louis University generally make around $47,995. National Louis University graduates carry a median of $42,172 in student loans.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 23 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.