Education programs across the Midwest span 208 institutions, with graduates earning between $35,833 and $83,648 ten years after enrollment. This $48,000 earnings range demonstrates how program selection and institutional quality directly impact teaching careers and long-term career earnings in the education sector.
Leading the list is University Of Minnesota-Twin Cities, achieving the highest program earnings at $55,779. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale follows closely at $55,418, with University Of Illinois Chicago rounding out the top three at $54,523. These public universities demonstrate how strong teacher preparation programs translate into superior median earnings compared to the national average for education degree holders.
| Rank | School | Location | Earnings | Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Denison UniversityPrivate | Granville, OH | $65,429 Median Education Earnings | $16,656 | 17.4% | 78.9% |
| #2 | Chicago, IL | $63,573 Median Education Earnings | $7,529 | 77.3% | 61.6% | |
| #3 | Minneapolis, MN | $62,991 Median Education Earnings | $6,642 | 79.8% | 85.3% | |
| #4 | Chicago State UniversityPublic | Chicago, IL | $59,296 Median Education Earnings | $9,073 | 43.3% | 15.5% |
| #5 | Carbondale, IL | $57,986 Median Education Earnings | $9,415 | 86.9% | 62.4% | |
| #6 | Martin Luther CollegePrivate | New Ulm, MN | $56,435 Median Education Earnings | $11,233 | 87.2% | 71.5% |
| #7 | Beloit CollegePrivate | Beloit, WI | $56,414 Median Education Earnings | $15,176 | 63.0% | 71.0% |
| #8 | Saint Xavier UniversityPrivate | Chicago, IL | $56,363 Median Education Earnings | $7,572 | 84.3% | 56.6% |
| #9 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | Chicago, IL | $55,506 Median Education Earnings | $27,359 | 75.9% | 67.8% |
| #10 | Champaign, IL | $55,429 Median Education Earnings | $2,038 | 42.4% | 85.1% | |
| #11 | Bloomington, IN | $54,634 Median Education Earnings | $6,324 | 78.2% | 80.2% | |
| #12 | Ann Arbor, MI | $54,558 Median Education Earnings | $1,043 | 15.6% | 93.2% | |
| #13 | Gary, IN | $54,088 Median Education Earnings | $1,419 | 73.4% | 37.4% | |
| #14 | Valparaiso UniversityPrivate | Valparaiso, IN | $54,038 Median Education Earnings | $11,043 | 89.4% | 70.4% |
| #15 | Elmhurst UniversityPrivate | Elmhurst, IL | $53,951 Median Education Earnings | $17,892 | 73.6% | 70.0% |
| #16 | Doane UniversityPrivate | Crete, NE | $53,827 Median Education Earnings | $21,129 | 98.0% | 57.1% |
| #17 | Dominican UniversityPrivate | River Forest, IL | $53,810 Median Education Earnings | $9,759 | 90.3% | 55.3% |
| #18 | Wisconsin Lutheran CollegePrivate | Milwaukee, WI | $53,548 Median Education Earnings | $18,190 | 78.2% | 63.6% |
| #19 | Marquette UniversityPrivate | Milwaukee, WI | $53,487 Median Education Earnings | $22,269 | 81.3% | 83.2% |
| #20 | Wayne State UniversityPublic | Detroit, MI | $53,459 Median Education Earnings | $11,090 | 81.2% | 58.4% |
