2027 Best Secondary Education Schools in Illinois
Secondary Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their secondary education programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools to find the best for secondary education students.
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Best Schools for Secondary Education in Illinois
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 secondary education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Secondary Education
Northwestern University tops our 2027 ranking of the best secondary education schools. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 13 secondary education degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
Read more about the secondary education program at Northwestern University
Loyola University Chicago came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best secondary education schools. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 secondary education degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the secondary education program make about $61,945 in their early career. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Read more about the secondary education program at Loyola University Chicago
Northeastern Illinois University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in secondary education, landing the #3 spot this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 22%. Northeastern Illinois University awarded about 19 secondary education degrees in the most recent data year. Secondary Education graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $51,301 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,612.
More information about a degree in secondary education from Northeastern Illinois University
A rank of #4 makes Lewis University one of the top schools for secondary education. 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. Lewis University awarded about 10 secondary education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their secondary education degree from Lewis University earn around $46,503 in the first couple years of their career. Lewis University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
Get the full secondary education details for Lewis University
Aurora University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in secondary education, ranking #5. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. About 60% of students finish within six years. Aurora University awarded about 19 secondary education degrees in the most recent data year. Secondary Education graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $54,551 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,197.
More information about a degree in secondary education from Aurora University
Saint Xavier University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best secondary education schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 secondary education degrees were awarded at Saint Xavier University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Saint Xavier University generally make around $49,526. Saint Xavier University graduates carry a median of $29,854 in student loans.
Read more about the secondary education program at Saint Xavier University
National Louis University placed #7 among the best secondary education schools. Set in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 30% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 69 secondary education students who graduated with this degree at National Louis University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their secondary education degree from National Louis University earn around $47,995 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $42,172 to complete this degree.
See the full secondary education program report for National Louis University
More Secondary Education Rankings
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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 · 7 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.
