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Cheapest Education Colleges in Illinois

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

Hebrew Theological College in Skokie delivers Education, General degrees at a net cost of just $11,197, making it the most affordable option among Illinois programs by a significant margin. The price gap between this outlier and other schools is substantial, with Dominican University following at $15,113 and most private colleges charging over $20,000 annually. Illinois education graduates enter a job market where teachers are increasingly needed across the state's 850+ school districts, particularly in Chicago Public Schools which employs over 21,000 teachers. The 16 programs span from $11,197 to $29,550, with graduation rates varying from 38% at Rockford University to an strong 96% at Northwestern. Illinois offers the MAP Grant program to help reduce costs for qualifying students, making teacher preparation more accessible across economic backgrounds.
16
Programs
$11,197 – $29,550
Net Price Range
$34,310
Avg. Program Earnings
64.0%
Avg. Graduation Rate

16 Education, General Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $11,197 $14,700 73.1% 71.4%
2 $15,113 $37,844 62.4% 89.5%
3 $15,201 $16,004 84.9% 44.8%
4 $16,381 $20,325 63.9% 70.7%
5 $16,774 $36,258 47.4% 93.0%
6 $17,945 $37,470 61.1% 77.2%
7 $18,034 $43,520 60.1% 90.7%
8 $20,152 $20,280 41.0% 88.3%
9 $21,063 $41,628 65.2% 76.0%
10 $21,270 $30,598 51.4% 94.1%
11 $23,066 $37,300 38.3% 54.9%
12 $24,190 $34,070 59.5% 68.4%
13 $24,875 $55,587 67.5% 73.3%
14 $27,143 $65,997 95.9% 7.2%
15 $27,499 $54,202 70.4% 59.7%
16 $29,550 $55,704 82.5% 42.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Hebrew Theological College so much cheaper than other Education programs?

Hebrew Theological College charges a net cost of $11,197 compared to the next cheapest at $15,113, creating a $3,916 gap. The school maintains a 73% graduation rate while keeping costs low through its focused mission and smaller scale. Its sticker price of $14,700 is already well below most private colleges in the state. This makes it an outlier in Illinois education preparation programs.

How do public and private Education program costs compare in Illinois?

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign represents the sole public option at $15,201 net cost with an in-state tuition of $16,004. Private colleges range from $15,113 at Dominican to $29,550 at the high end. Most private institutions charge between $20,000-$25,000 after aid, making the public option competitive but not dramatically cheaper than several private alternatives.

Does Northwestern's high cost translate to better career outcomes?

Northwestern charges $27,143 net cost, among the highest for Education programs in Illinois, but achieves a 96% graduation rate. The school's 7% acceptance rate makes it highly selective compared to most education programs that accept 70-90% of applicants. However, specific salary data for Northwestern education graduates wasn't available, making direct ROI comparisons difficult against lower-cost alternatives.

Where can Education majors find the best graduation rates for their investment?

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers the strongest combination with an 85% graduation rate at $15,201 net cost. Hebrew Theological College provides good value with 73% completion at just $11,197. Several schools like Roosevelt University show concerning 41% graduation rates despite charging over $20,000, suggesting students should carefully evaluate completion statistics alongside costs.

More Education, General Rankings

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.