College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Most Focused Colleges for Education in Illinois

88 Ranked Colleges
$27,000 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois” ranking - to help you make that decision.

With 328,588 degrees handed out in 2021-2022, education is the 4th most popular major in the United States. In , education graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $46,195 and had an average of $29,274 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 10,700 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $49,621 and $27,956 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois” ranking analyzed 88 colleges that offered a degree in education. That schools that top this list have a program in education in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Education Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Education Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois education students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Education in Illinois

1

Out of the 88 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, VanderCook College of Music landed the #1 spot on the list. VanderCook College of Music is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 57 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full VanderCook College of Music Education Report

2
NLU crest
National Louis University
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend National Louis University. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 1,084 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Education at National Louis University

3
Concordia University, Chicago crest
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Concordia University, Chicago. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized school located in River Forest, Illinois that handed out 1,032 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Concordia University, Chicago Education Report

4
The Erikson Institute crest
Erikson Institute
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Erikson Institute. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois list. Erikson Institute is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 98 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Education at Erikson Institute

5
Greenville crest
Greenville University
Greenville, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Greenville University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois. Greenville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 101 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Greenville University Education Report

6
St. Augustine College crest
Saint Augustine College
Chicago, Illinois

Saint Augustine College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois ranking. Saint Augustine College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 88 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Education at St. Augustine College

7
University of Saint Francis crest
University of St Francis
Joliet, Illinois

With a ranking of #7, University of St Francis did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois list. University of Saint Francis is located in Joliet, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 287 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of St Francis Education Report

8
Trinity Christian crest
Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, Illinois

Trinity Christian College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois ranking. Trinity Christian is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Palos Heights, Illinois. It awarded 87 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Trinity Christian Education Report

9
Rockford crest
Rockford University
Rockford, Illinois

Rockford University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois ranking. Rockford is a small school located in Rockford, Illinois that handed out 96 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Education at Rockford University

10
Olivet Nazarene crest
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois

Olivet Nazarene University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois ranking. This small school is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois, and it awarded 273 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Olivet Nazarene University Education Report

11
Blackburn crest
Blackburn College
Carlinville, Illinois

Blackburn College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #11. This small school is located in Carlinville, Illinois, and it awarded 10 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Education at Blackburn

12

Northeastern Illinois University ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois list. Northeastern Illinois University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 424 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Education at Northeastern Illinois University

13
North Park crest
North Park University
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #13, North Park University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois list. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 124 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Education at North Park University

14
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #14. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 357 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Education at Eastern Illinois University

15
McKendree crest
McKendree University
Lebanon, Illinois

McKendree University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #15. McKendree is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lebanon, Illinois. It awarded 107 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full McKendree University Education Report

16

Illinois State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school awarded 992 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Illinois State Education Report

17
Quincy U crest
Quincy University
Quincy, Illinois

Quincy University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois ranking. Quincy U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Quincy, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 47 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Education at Quincy University

18
Aurora crest
Aurora University
Aurora, Illinois

Aurora University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois ranking. Located in Aurora, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 349 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Education at Aurora

19
North Central crest
North Central College
Naperville, Illinois

North Central College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois ranking. North Central is a private not-for-profit institution located in Naperville, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 95 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Education at North Central

20

Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #20. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 595 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Education at Northern Illinois University

21

Western Illinois University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois ranking. Macomb, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 246 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Education at Western Illinois University

22
Lewis crest
Lewis University
Romeoville, Illinois

Lewis University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #22. Lewis is located in Romeoville, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 216 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Education at Lewis University

23
Roosevelt crest
Roosevelt University
Chicago, Illinois

Roosevelt University ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 206 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Roosevelt Education Report

24
Elmhurst crest
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, Illinois

Elmhurst University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #24. This small school is located in Elmhurst, Illinois, and it awarded 116 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Education at Elmhurst University

25
Principia crest
Principia College
Elsah, Illinois

Principia College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Illinois ranking. Elsah, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 9 students in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Education at Principia

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options