2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Education in Illinois (With Aid)
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid” ranking.
In 2019-2020, 310,601 education students received their degree, making the major the 4th most popular in the country. 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 Getting Aid” ranking looked at 42 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great education programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the education program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Education in Illinois (With Aid)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 278 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.
UIUC also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #3. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083.
Read full report on Education at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 166 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Out of the 42 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Governors State University landed the #3 spot on the list. GSU is a small school located in University Park, Illinois that handed out 23 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Governors State University are $14,674, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of St Francis. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid. 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 with aid list, University of Saint Francis has also earned the #16 rank 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 St Francis are $13,839.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Springfield. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid. Located in Springfield, Illinois, this small public school handed out 25 degrees to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UIS are $16,757, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #6, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 164 students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Illinois University are $20,761.
National Louis University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. NLU is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 611 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
NLU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at NLU are $12,096, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. Northern Illinois University is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 296 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree education students with aid list, NIU has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Illinois University are $11,086, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Northeastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. Northeastern Illinois University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 280 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern Illinois University are $17,032.
With a ranking of #10, Saint Xavier University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 56 diplomas to qualified masters’s education students 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Xavier University are $15,450, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Chicago State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. CSU is a small public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 29 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at CSU are $15,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Western Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. WIU is a medium-sized public school situated in Macomb, Illinois. It awarded 186 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
WIU also took the #24 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Illinois University are $11,996, but some majors have different tuition rates.
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 Getting Aid ranking. Aurora, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 156 students in 2019-2020.
Aurora did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Aurora are $13,200, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #14, Concordia University, Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Concordia University, Chicago is located in River Forest, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 844 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.
Concordia University, Chicago also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #5. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Concordia University, Chicago are $9,378.
Read full report on Education at Concordia University, Chicago
Olivet Nazarene University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois, and it awarded 340 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Olivet Nazarene also took the #8 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Olivet Nazarene are $13,393, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #16, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. SIUE is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 84 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are $9,300, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. SIUC is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 52 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
SIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are $32,928, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Education at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Northwestern University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 74 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #1 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 Northwestern University are $56,567.
Judson University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Judson is a private not-for-profit institution located in Elgin, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Judson also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #0. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Judson University are $18,900.
Lewis University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Lewis University is a medium-sized school located in Romeoville, Illinois that handed out 129 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lewis, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Lewis University are $14,780, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Dominican University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. Dominican U is located in River Forest, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 57 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Dominican University are $20,884, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Illinois State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Illinois State University is a public institution located in Normal, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 145 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Illinois State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State are $11,069, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
VanderCook College of Music ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. VanderCook College of Music is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 32 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
VanderCook College of Music not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at VanderCook College of Music are $7,730, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #24, North Park University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 52 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
North Park also took the #19 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 North Park are $14,076.
Quincy University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. This small school is located in Quincy, Illinois, and it awarded 20 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Quincy U are $12,000, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
- Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Education in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
- Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Education (With Aid)
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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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