Illinois Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide

The school guide found below is designed to help aspiring teachers find and evaluate teaching schools in Illinois. Fortunately for new students, there are several colleges and universities that offer degree programs for aspiring and existing teachers looking to obtain a teaching degree in Illinois. For details on programs in the state, scroll down to find useful information such as lists of top-rated teaching programs, a table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs, and student reviews. Whether researching college for the first time or looking to change careers, the information on this page is intended to help future teachers find a quality program that meets their individual career goals.

Table of Contents

• Teacher Preparation Program Comparison
• Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs
• Select Schools with Teacher Preparation Degrees
• Schools with Associate Degrees in Education
• Student Reviews

Quick Facts

• There are 91 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Illinois.¹
• 32 schools offer an associate’s degree in education.¹
• 51 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in education.¹
• 50 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.¹
• 21 schools ranked in Teacher Certification Degrees’ Best Online Master of Education (M.Ed.) Programs.
• 2 schools ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2022.²
• 14 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2022.³
• 8 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Education Programs 2022.⁴
• 13 educator preparation providers (EPPs) are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP.⁵

For not-for-profit schools with teacher degree programs.

Comparison of Illinois Schools with Teacher Preparation Programs

We have designed the following table to help you compare teacher preparation programs in Illinois according to various factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for the preparation of teachers. Completing a state-approved teacher preparation program is an important step towards earning licensure.

While accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is not a requirement for licensure, it is included in the following table as CAEP provides a highly-regarded accreditation that is accepted in many states.

You will also find data on teacher preparation program enrollment, completion, and licensing exam pass rates by institution, for both traditional and alternative programs, for the 2018-2019 academic year in this table. These data points are collected from annual US Department of Education reports under Title II (Teacher Quality) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which holds institutions and state departments of education accountable for increasing academic achievement through improvements in teacher quality. Traditional teacher preparation programs are usually completed as part of a bachelor’s degree program. Alternative certification programs are typically designed for career changers looking to enter the field and lead to a postgraduate certificate or a master’s degree. Many schools in our table offer both traditional and alternative programs. Take a look at our Illinois traditional and alternative certification guides for more information.

Finally, we have provided the net price per year for undergraduate tuition, based on the cost of attendance (tuition, books, room and board, and related expenses) for students who qualify for in-state tuition and fees, less the average financial aid award (including grants and scholarships).

• — indicates none or not applicable.
• N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.

Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs in Illinois

Best Online Master of Education Programs in Illinois

• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (#1)
• Northern Illinois University (#2)
• Illinois State University (#3)

Visit our ranking of the best online Master of Education (M.Ed.) programs in Illinois to see the full list plus a breakdown of the most affordable schools.

Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2022

• Knox College
• Northwestern University

US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2022

• Northwestern University (#8)
• University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign (#36)
• University of Illinois-Chicago (#41 tie)
• Illinois State University (#80 tie)
• Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (#80 tie)
• Loyola University Chicago (#111 tie)
• Northern Illinois University (#154 tie)
• DePaul University (#163 tie)
• National-Louis University (#196 tie)
• Western Illinois University (#198 tie)
• Judson University (#211-277)
• Lewis University (#211-277)
• McKendree University (#211-277)
• University of St. Francis (#211-277)

US News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Education Programs 2022

• University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign (#3 tie)
• Northern Illinois University (#28 tie)
• University of St. Francis (#46 tie)
• McKendree University (#102 tie)
• University of Illinois-Springfield (#120 tie)
• DePaul University (#147 tie)
• Concordia University (#171 tie)
• Eastern Illinois University (#242-321)

Select Illinois Schools with Teacher Preparation Degrees

DePaul University

Located in Chicago, DePaul University is a private institution with a College of Education that has been preparing educators since 1963. The College of Education offers six undergraduate education programs including Early, Elementary, and Secondary Education. The graduate program offerings range in focal areas, from Bilingual-Bicultural to Special Education. Doctoral and specialist programs include a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Education (EdD), or Education Specialist (EdS) in Curriculum Studies or Educational Leadership. DePaul also offers the unique five-year, dual-degree Secondary Education TEACH program, which allows students to complete a bachelor’s in their chosen instructional area and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in five years, leading to secondary education licensure. Graduate students have several options including fully online degrees designed for students who work full-time.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s College of Education strives to engage in critical research on education topics, prepare teachers and educational leaders, and serve the state of Illinois’ educators through professional development opportunities. The College confers degrees at the certificate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Undergraduate offerings include four teacher licensure-track degrees as well as minors and several endorsement options for current teachers, and a non-licensure Bachelor of Science (BS) in Learning & Education Studies. Graduate and doctoral programs are offered in the following focal areas: Curriculum & Instruction; Education Policy, Organization & Leadership; Educational Psychology; and Special Education. The school also offers 18 online endorsement and degree programs, including a Master of Education (EdM) and a Doctor of Education (EdD). Licensure-track students at all levels are supported during the process of field experience placement by the College’s Office of School and Community Experiences.

Schools with Associate Degrees in Education

While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational level required to qualify for state certification, an associate’s degree can be the first step towards a career in education. It can qualify graduates for careers in non-licensed roles in early childhood education, after-school care, and related areas. The credits earned from an accredited associate degree program can also typically be transferred towards a bachelor’s degree. The following Alabama schools offer associate’s degrees in education.¹ Schools with an asterisk (*) also offer four-year teaching programs and/or alternative route to certification programs.

City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College
30 E Lake St
Chicago, IL 60601-2449
(312) 553-5600
https://www.ccc.edu/washington/home/

College of DuPage
425 Fawell Blvd
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137-6599
(630) 942-2800
www.cod.edu

College of Lake County*
19351 W Washington St
Grayslake, IL 60030-1198
(847) 543-2000
www.clcillinois.edu

Danville Area Community College
2000 E Main St
Danville, IL 61832-5118
(217) 443-3222
www.dacc.edu

Elgin Community College
1700 Spartan Dr
Elgin, IL 60123-7193
(847) 697-1000
www.elgin.edu

Frontier Community College
2 Frontier Dr
Fairfield, IL 62837-2601
(618) 393-2982 x5559
www.iecc.edu/fcc

Highland Community College
2998 W Pearl City Rd
Freeport, IL 61032-9341
(815) 235-6121
www.highland.edu

Illinois Central College
1 College Dr
East Peoria, IL 61635-0001
(309) 694-5422
www.icc.edu

Illinois Valley Community College
815 N Orlando Smith Rd
Oglesby, IL 61348-9692
(815) 224-2720
www.ivcc.edu

John A Logan College
700 Logan College Dr
Carterville, IL 62918-2500
(618) 985-3741
www.jalc.edu

Joliet Junior College
1215 Houbolt Rd
Joliet, IL 60431-8938
(815) 729-9020
www.jjc.edu

Kankakee Community College
100 College Dr
Kankakee, IL 60901-6505
(815) 802-8100
www.kcc.edu

Kaskaskia College
27210 College Rd
Centralia, IL 62801-7800
(618) 545-3000
www.kaskaskia.edu

Kishwaukee College
21193 Malta Rd
Malta, IL 60150-9699
(815) 825-2086
www.kish.edu

Lake Land College
5001 Lake Land Blvd
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 234-5253
www.lakelandcollege.edu

Lincoln Christian University
100 Campus View Dr
Lincoln, IL 62656-2111
(217) 732-3168
www.lincolnchristian.edu

Lincoln Trail College
11220 IL-1
Robinson, IL 62454-5707
(618) 544-8657
www.iecc.edu/ltc

McHenry County College
8900 US-14
Crystal Lake, IL 60012-2761
(815) 455-3700
www.mchenry.edu

Moraine Valley Community College*
9000 W College Pkwy
Palos Hills, IL 60465-0937
(708) 974-4300
www.morainevalley.edu

Morton College
3801 S Central Ave
Cicero, IL 60804-4398
(708) 656-8000
www.morton.edu

Oakton Community College
1600 E Golf Rd
Des Plaines, IL 60016-1268
(847) 635-1600
www.oakton.edu

Olney Central College
305 N West St
Olney, IL 62450-1043
(618) 393-2982 x5559
www.iecc.edu/occ

Parkland College
2400 W Bradley Ave
Champaign, IL 61821-1899
(217) 351-2200
www.parkland.edu

Prairie State College*
202 S Halsted St
Chicago Heights, IL 60411-8226
(708) 709-3500
www.prairiestate.edu

Roosevelt University*
430 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60605-1394
(312) 341-3500
www.roosevelt.edu

Sauk Valley Community College
173 IL-2
Dixon, IL 61021-9112
(815) 288-5511
www.svcc.edu

South Suburban College*
15800 State St
South Holland, IL 60473-1200
(708) 596-2000
www.ssc.edu

Southwestern Illinois College
2500 Carlyle Ave
Belleville, IL 62221-5899
(618) 235-2700
www.swic.edu

St. Augustine College
1345 W Argyle St
Chicago, IL 60640-3501
(773) 878-8756
www.staugustine.edu

Wabash Valley College
2200 College Dr
Mount Carmel, IL 62863-2657
(618) 393-2982
www.iecc.edu/wvc

Waubonsee Community College
4S783 IL-47
Sugar Grove, IL 60554-9454
(630) 466-7900
www.waubonsee.edu

William Rainey Harper College*
1200 W Algonquin Rd
Palatine, IL 60067-7398
(847) 925-6000
www.harpercollege.edu

Student Reviews

Columbia College Chicago
600 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60605-1996
(312) 663-1600
www.colum.edu

Student Review: “I generally like going to Columbia College Chicago. I feel that it really is a place where young adults are allowed to be as creative as they want, and pursue any dreams they may have. Its location is always great for me, as a complete “city girl.” The Columbia College Chicago campus spans several blocks in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood, but it’s less like a campus and more like collection buildings scattered throughout the area. I really like that because I feel it gives you more of a sense of independence than going to school on an actual campus would. Most of the professors are still working in their field, so you’re getting an education from someone who is doing exactly what you hope to be doing, not just any random person with a degree in your field but no actual experience. The only downside is the office people can be a little unorganized and occasionally lose documents you have sent in, which is very inconvenient.” -Katelyn N., student at Columbia College Chicago

Eastern Illinois University
600 Lincoln Ave
Charleston, IL 61920-3011
(217) 581-5000
www.eiu.edu

Student Review: “Eastern Illinois University’s secondary education department prepared me for life as a teacher. The professors were very knowledgeable, and always had an open-door policy. I still hear from several of my teachers today, asking me how my job is going. The program featured several different types of practicum experience, and all of my teachers had had experience at the K-12 levels, before moving on to teach college. The methods classes were excellent, providing many new ways to look at teaching the material. There were plenty of hands-on experiences in working with children of different ages, and many professors were willing to be references for me when I started looking for work. It was on the recommendation of a professor that I got my first teaching job.” -Student at Eastern Illinois University

Harold Washington College
30 E Lake St
Chicago, IL 60601-2408
(312) 553-5600
www.ccc.edu

Student Review: “My experience at Harold Washington was often fantastic. Many of the professors prepared me for my time in the classroom by building their courses around projects that prepared me to think creatively while working with children. Because these professors all had many years of experience teaching young children, they provided countless anecdotes and were able to answer questions from experience and could provide specific input when I came to them with questions that I encountered in the field. There were a few professors whose courses reminded me too much of high school, where busywork was assigned and valuable class time was spent reading the book silently and answering questions from the end of each chapter. That’s the kind of thing students can do at home. In a college class, I prefer to gain knowledge directly from my professor and classmates. Thankfully, that was my experience for the most part, and the professors who assigned busywork or were unorganized were the minority.” -Student at Harold Washington College

Illinois State University
100 N University St
Normal, IL 61790-1000
(309) 438-2111
https://illinoisstate.edu

Student Review: “At Illinois State University, their teaching program has a long history of preparing excellent teachers that both are progressive in their lessons and challengers of the system. The curriculum put in place by my university demonstrates the support many pre-service teachers need before moving onto having their own classrooms. Workshops, late office hours, and a library floor dedicated to education majors echoes the university’s motto “We gladly teach and learn.” Yet reaching beyond the walls of our university, laboratory schools have been built on site for education majors to observe their respective grades to understand the needs and demands of students. One aspect of this is the Professional Development Schools program (PDS) where hardworking student teachers will have the experience to grow in a year-long student teaching internship to learn quickly and effectively the current trends in the education world.” -Candice H., student at Illinois State University

Millikin University
1184 W Main St
Decatur, IL 62522-2084
(217) 424-6211
www.millikin.edu

Student Review: “Millikin University has an amazing music education program! The faculty is great and you get a well-rounded education in both education and music fundamentals. I loved the small classroom sizes and the availability of the professors. They are so willing to give you one-on-one time that if you put the effort in, I guarantee you can excel in this program. I also loved the hands-on experience that the program gave me. I got to observe teachers in the classroom during the first semester I was there, and I had the opportunity to teach weekly by my sophomore year. We also had frequent meetings to keep us up-to-date on state requirements for teachers. I feel that Millikin University does a wonderful job preparing its future choir teachers!” -Student at Millikin University

North Central College
30 N Brainard St
Naperville, IL 60540-4607
(630) 637-5100
https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/

Student Review: “Studying Education at North Central College was an experience for me. It was my minor and Chemistry was my Major, so on top of class, I had a lot of lab hours and observational hours at schools observing kids. It was very difficult to manage the two programs. Now that I graduated, I wish I had Education as my major instead of Chemistry because I much rather work with special ed kids. I felt that Education 100 was kind of boring to take and it made me question if I wanted to stick with Education. I’m glad I did, the further I got in the program, I was enjoying it more. My favorite course was Education 475. I had the best professor and learned so much by just reading simple books and writing papers. The teacher I had made me laugh, and I was interested in the material. The class was called philosophy of education.” – Student at North Central College

North Park University
3225 W Foster Ave
Chicago, IL 60625-4895
(773) 244-6200
www.northpark.edu

Student Review: “While there were many benefits to my school’s education program there were a few great downfalls. I thought all of the teachers were great and that it was wonderful that many of them had in-classroom experience, many were even currently teachers. While current teachers are great to have sometimes they aren’t quite as focused on teaching you as they are worried about their own personal classrooms and therefore weren’t of the greatest benefit to me. Another issue that I had with the school was the lack of communication. I’m 90% sure my advisor still doesn’t know who I am and I am supposed to be graduating in December. For a small school, our education program needs to do much more work to better prepare their students.” -Amanda C., student at North Park University

Northern Illinois University
1425 W Lincoln Hwy
Dekalb, IL 60115-2825
(800) 892-3050
https://www.niu.edu/index.shtml

Student Review: “The program at Northern Illinois University for training students in the area of visual impairment and blindness is one of the best available in the United States. The emphasis on technology, specifically assistive devices and/or software designed to assist people who have visual impairments, advanced braille studies focusing on adaptation in the area of math and science, in-depth study of the American Vocational Rehabilitation system, and detailed studies in orientation and mobility covering everything from human guide techniques, to advanced cane travel. The professors are practitioners in the field, bringing real-world experience to the classroom. Many of them are published and respected by organizations such as the NFB, ACB, and AER, as well as being accredited by the ACVREP. A student looking to become a teacher of people with visual impairments would be hard-pressed to find a more detailed and well-rounded program.” -Dale S., student at Illinois State University

Student Review: “At Illinois State University I am able to do exactly what I thought college was going to be for me. It is far enough from home where I can live on my own but also close enough where if I need to go home for something I can. What I like most about the university is all of the hands-on experience I can get with my major. I have also met some very good friends here everyone is friendly and gets along well. The one thing that I feel like could be improved for the university is the online system that teachers use to communicate with students. Sometimes it doesn’t accept homework and will crash during quizzes.” -Zack H., student at Illinois State University

Northwestern University
633 Clark St
Evanston, IL 60208-0001
(312) 491-3741
https://www.northwestern.edu/

Student Review: “Northwestern is great for the people who want to be there. It’s a very pre-professional school; people attend specifically to be an actor, to be a musician, to be a journalist, to be an engineer, etc. This is a generalization, but it summarized the overall student atmosphere, people split into groups of their friends and classmates, and stay that way largely towards graduation. Aside from that, the school embraces the excitement of the quarter system, a vibrant and diverse social life; Greek life is big, but so are communities based in residence halls, apartment parties, off-campus restaurant/bar nights, and rigorous academics. Not to mention, the campus on Lake Michigan is simply gorgeous (though there is a lack of central hangout space on school grounds).” -Lukas W., student at Northwestern University

Olivet Nazarene University
1 University Ave
Bourbonnais, IL 60914-2271
(815) 939-5011
https://www.olivet.edu/

Student Review: “I had a great experience at Olivet Nazarene University. I think that the education program greatly prepared me to become a teacher. All the professors in the school of education truly cared for their students and wanted them to succeed. They were always there if you had a question or needed help. They also were very qualified teachers that brought real-world experience to the classroom. The classes themselves prepared me to be an effective teacher through the field experience hours and the content during lecture. I loved the fact I was able to gain experience teaching all grade levels and subjects. The only thing I would improve would be the ESL minor. I would have loved more experience teaching in the class with students with the minor.” -Natasha F., student at Olivet Nazarene University

Roosevelt University
430 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60605-1394
(312) 341-3500
https://www.roosevelt.edu/

Student Review: “The educator preparation program at Roosevelt University Chicago was an exceptional learning opportunity for me. The classes were both informative and challenging. The program’s professors were from a diverse group of experts in the field of education, and that made the experience even greater. I was able to learn from teachers, policymakers, educational board members, and educational administrators. However, the greatest opportunity provided by the program was the chance to teach within the Chicago Public School system while enrolled at Roosevelt. As much as I truly appreciated my experiences through this program, I did feel that online opportunities were not as prevalent as they could have been. An online platform allows for additional discussion, but I only had that option in two of my courses. Overall, the program was excellent.” – Student at Roosevelt University

University of Illinois at Chicago
601 S Morgan St
Chicago, IL 60607-7100
(312) 996-7000
https://www.uic.edu/

Student Review: “The University of Illinois at Chicago was a wonderful school to attend. It is right in the heart of Chicago. It is a big school and makes a city kid feel like they were at home. Surrounded by many skyscrapers, and even had the Sears tower within a 20-minute walking distance. UIC has a friendly atmosphere, with lots of kind people. One great thing about the school is the affordability. UIC is much cheaper than any other schools in the area. It was about 1/3 the price of other Universities in Chicago. The professors are very helpful and try the best to accommodate you. One bad thing about UIC though is since the city is very populated, commuting to school takes some time, especially during rush hour.” -John D., student at University of Illinois at Chicago

Student Review: “The University of Illinois at Chicago was a decent school for undergraduate education. Being from the Chicago area, I wanted to stick around and witness big city life first hand, which is a great feature of UIC, right on the outskirts of downtown and near a few developing, hip neighborhoods. The academic program was good for the price (~ $10,000 per year) though there certainly were areas where it was lacking. The University’s infrastructure was crumbling (voted ugliest campus in the USA) and the administration was sketchy and clearly embroiled in some kind of dirt. Probably a better choice for students from the Chicago-land area who cannot afford a better school or who are struggling academically to matriculate to a more rigorous institution.” -Jake N., student at University of Illinois at Chicago

University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
601 E John St
Champaign, IL 61820-5711
(217) 333-1000
https://illinois.edu/

Student Review: “Deciding to go to the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana is probably the best decision I have ever made. There is something truly special about going to a Big Ten University and being on a campus with almost 40,000 students. There are endless possibilities to get involved in clubs and meet friends. One of my favorite things about U of I is the quad and watching it fill with students after classes on a nice sunny day. It is no secret the U of I is known for its Engineering and Business programs, however, the list of majors seems to go on and on. U of I truly has something to offer for everyone whether you are into sports, greek life, music, arts, or just hanging out with friends.” -Monica B., student at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Student Review: “The University of Illinois was an extremely overpriced education for the quality of professors, classes, and preparation for my career field that I received. Since there was little choice in which classes to take, it would make sense for the teachers of those classes to converse with each other about how to make the best curriculum throughout the four-year program. Other things that are covered by the Illinois certification that I now hold were not even taught at all in my mandatory course track. The administration was hardly supportive of the program and made a lot of decisions that ended up losing much publicity and campus community outreach, a decision that resulted in the loss of more than 120 people participating in the choral program. There were some good things about the university that made it worthwhile. The campus sponsored events, such as multicultural education and residence hall activities, were extremely beneficial to my student life. The vast amount of registered student organizations also gave me a lot of new experiences and opportunity to try different things and meet new people.” -John L., student at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Student Review: “I really enjoyed the Early Childhood Education program. It provided hands on experience involving working directly with children as well as helpful courses on child development. The faculty are friendly and always willing to help. The curriculum was challenging but fun. Of course, my favorite part of the program is working with children. It’s always been my goal to be either a preschool or kindergarten teacher, so I enjoyed what this program offered me. The one problem I have is that sometimes the modules we had to use online did not work. This made doing homework and studying a lot more difficult.” -Student at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Western Illinois University
1 University Cir
Macomb, IL 61455-1367
(309) 295-1414
https://www.wiu.edu/

Student Review: “I think the teacher prep program at WIU has done a very good job of preparing me to become a teacher. My professors all had experience teaching in public schools and cared about the subjects they taught. In the broader realm of education, we covered both the psychology of education and the social and cultural aspects. Specifically, in music education, we were pushed to consider how we were preparing students to be lifelong learners and not just regurgitate information. There was also a large focus on using standards and benchmarks in a positive way, and incorporating them into effective education instead of forcing them on students.” -Student at Western Illinois University

Wheaton College
501 College Ave
Wheaton, IL 60187-5593
(630) 752-5000
www.wheaton.edu

Student Review: “I had an excellent experience at Wheaton College. From the education program’s intentionality at providing a bonded group experience to the professors’ availability to mentor and lead students personally, I could not imagine wanting more from an educational standpoint. The useful and challenging curriculum was not only transferred to students but was also interacted with by students. Educators in the program made an effort to create classroom dialogue that allowed students to engage with and actually practice class subject matter. I enjoyed learning with professors and fellow students in a dynamic way. The only improvement that could have been made was the extended length of some mandatory classes, which were difficult to tune into for such long periods of time.” -Student at Wheaton College-Wheaton

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. The Princeton Review. The Best 385 Colleges, 2022 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2021.
3. US News & World Report Best Graduate Education Schools 2022: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings
4. US News & World Report Best Online Graduate Education Schools 2022: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/rankings
5. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): http://caepnet.org/provider-search
6. US Department of Education 2020 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx