Compare 25 Art Teacher Education. programs in Illinois. Average earnings: $46,197.
Art Teacher Education programs produce graduates earning between $42,831 and $60,744—a $18K spread that demonstrates why program selection matters independently of school prestige. Across 25 ranked programs in Illinois, outcomes vary based on program quality, not institutional reputation.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's Art Teacher Education program leads with graduates earning $60,744, well above the state average of $46,197. University of Illinois Chicago follows at $56,110, showing how regional publics dominate this field while private institutions like DePaul trail at $51,978 despite higher costs.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Illinois Chicago graduates borrow $16,704 and face just a 6.8% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Meanwhile, Northeastern Illinois University offers the best family value with a 15.0% burden when parent loans are included—manageable for most households.
Highest program earnings: $60,744
Strong outcomes ($60,744) with 90% acceptance
6.8% payment burden | Excellent
15.0% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $60,744 | 173 | $21,543 | Excellent | $19,500 | Manageable | |
| #2 | $56,110 | 59 | $16,704 | Excellent | $24,323 | Challenging | |
| #3 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | $51,978 | 28 | $23,168 | Good | $41,563 | High |
| #4 | Elmhurst UniversityPrivate | $51,697 | 26 | $20,489 | Good | $27,470 | Challenging |
| #5 | North Park UniversityPrivate | $51,181 | 7 | $25,500 | Manageable | $24,179 | High |
| #6 | $50,470 | 24 | $21,500 | Good | $17,781 | Challenging | |
| #7 | $50,105 | 16 | $14,600 | Excellent | $13,578 | Manageable | |
| #8 | Saint Xavier UniversityPrivate | $49,108 | 20 | $22,223 | Good | $20,742 | Challenging |
| #9 | North Central CollegePrivate | $48,074 | 31 | $24,500 | Manageable | $30,000 | High |
| #10 | $47,981 | 151 | $20,482 | Good | $28,767 | High | |
| #11 | $47,132 | 46 | $19,500 | Good | $34,511 | High | |
| #12 | $46,351 | 33 | $22,162 | Manageable | $19,508 | High | |
| #13 | $46,131 | 11 | $25,251 | Manageable | $20,764 | High | |
| #14 | Concordia University-ChicagoPrivate | $45,973 | 7 | $23,000 | Manageable | $18,968 | High |
| #15 | Vandercook College Of MusicPrivate | $45,457 | 19 | $27,000 | Manageable | $44,186 | High |
| #16 | Augustana CollegePrivate | $45,024 | 26 | $27,000 | Manageable | $37,219 | High |
| #17 | Illinois Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | $43,737 | 10 | $27,000 | Manageable | $47,679 | High |
| #18 | Bradley UniversityPrivate | $43,648 | 16 | $27,000 | Manageable | $41,405 | High |
| #19 | Olivet Nazarene UniversityPrivate | $43,011 | 23 | $25,000 | Manageable | $21,966 | High |
| #20 | Millikin UniversityPrivate | $42,831 | 23 | $27,000 | Challenging | $25,486 | High |
| #21 | Trinity Christian CollegePrivate | $42,682 | 22 | $25,009 | Manageable | $18,426 | High |
| #22 | Loyola University ChicagoPrivate | $41,565 | 9 | $24,157 | Manageable | $54,045 | High |
| #23 | Rockford UniversityPrivate | $41,324 | 17 | $22,274 | Manageable | $22,982 | High |
| #24 | Wheaton CollegePrivate | $32,925 | 6 | $23,250 | High | $35,000 | High |
| #25 | Aurora UniversityPrivate | $29,685 | 6 | $20,318 | High | $19,500 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
