2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
With 310,601 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, education is the 4th most popular major in the United States. In 2017-2018, education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $43,887 and had an average of $30,244 in loans still to pay off.
Across Illinois, there were 10,069 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $45,178 and $28,378 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 5,348 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,267 and $46,814 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 42 colleges that offered a degree in education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great education programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the education program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Education (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
Out of the 42 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 74 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. UChicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 37 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UChicago, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Chicago are $61,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 278 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Out of the 42 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #4 spot on the list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 166 students in 2019-2020.
UIC also took the #7 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 84 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Northern Illinois University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 296 students in 2019-2020.
NIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Illinois University are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #7, Governors State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. GSU is a public institution located in University Park, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Governors State University are $14,674, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of St Francis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. University of Saint Francis is located in Joliet, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 226 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, University of Saint Francis has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of St Francis are $13,839, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Education at University of Saint Francis
Saint Xavier University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Saint Xavier University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 56 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
SXU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SXU are $15,450.
Lewis University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Romeoville, Illinois, and it awarded 129 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Lewis also took the #15 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Lewis are $14,780, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Eastern Illinois University is a medium-sized public school situated in Charleston, Illinois. It awarded 164 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at EIU are $20,761.
University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Illinois at Springfield is a small school located in Springfield, Illinois that handed out 25 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Springfield are $16,757.
Aurora University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Aurora University is located in Aurora, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 156 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.
Aurora also took the #20 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Aurora are $13,200, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #14, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. WIU is located in Macomb, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 186 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.
WIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at WIU are $11,996, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Illinois State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Illinois State University is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 145 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.
Illinois State also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #9. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State are $11,069.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Carbondale, Illinois, and it awarded 52 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
SIUC also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #23. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Education at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Olivet Nazarene University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Olivet Nazarene is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 340 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.
Olivet Nazarene not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Olivet Nazarene are $13,393, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
National Louis University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 611 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, NLU has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at National Louis University are $12,096, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #19, Lake Forest College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lake Forest is located in Lake Forest, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.
Lake Forest not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Lake Forest are $14,896, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #20, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 280 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern Illinois University are $17,032, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Concordia University, Chicago landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Concordia University, Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in River Forest, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 844 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Concordia University, Chicago also took the #5 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Concordia University, Chicago are $9,378, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Elmhurst University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Elmhurst is located in Elmhurst, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.
Elmhurst did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Elmhurst are $32,300.
Wheaton College Illinois came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Wheaton, Illinois, and it awarded 25 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Wheaton College Illinois also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #11. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wheaton College Illinois are $17,424.
With a ranking of #24, Dominican University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Dominican U is a small private not-for-profit school situated in River Forest, Illinois. It awarded 57 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Dominican University are $20,884, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Bradley University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Peoria, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 26 diplomas to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.
Bradley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Bradley University are $17,040.
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- Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Education (Income $0-$30k)
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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