Compare 12 Special Education and Teaching. programs in Illinois. Average earnings: $46,977.
Special Education and Teaching programs produce graduates earning between $38,289 and $61,326—a $23K spread that demonstrates why program selection matters independently of school prestige. Across 12 ranked programs in Illinois, outcomes vary based on program quality, not institutional reputation.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Special Education program leads with graduates earning $61,326, well above the $46,977 state average. But Northeastern Illinois University follows closely at $59,948 with 70% acceptance versus UIUC's 44%—proving that accessible programs can deliver comparable outcomes to selective ones.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Northeastern Illinois University graduates borrow $14,600 and face just a 5.4% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Even UIUC, with higher borrowing at $19,500, maintains an excellent 6.9% burden thanks to strong graduate earnings.
Highest program earnings: $61,326
Strong outcomes ($59,948) with 70% acceptance
5.4% payment burden | Excellent
11.1% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $61,326 | 26 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Challenging | |
| #2 | $59,948 | 5 | $14,600 | Excellent | $13,578 | Good | |
| #3 | $49,485 | 34 | $22,162 | Good | $19,508 | Challenging | |
| #4 | $49,411 | 156 | $20,482 | Good | $28,767 | High | |
| #5 | Trinity Christian CollegePrivate | $47,999 | 13 | $25,009 | Manageable | $18,426 | Challenging |
| #6 | Loyola University ChicagoPrivate | $45,500 | 7 | $24,157 | Manageable | $54,045 | High |
| #7 | $44,173 | 12 | $25,251 | Manageable | $20,764 | High | |
| #8 | $43,409 | 16 | $21,543 | Manageable | $19,500 | High | |
| #9 | Bradley UniversityPrivate | $43,072 | 9 | $27,000 | Challenging | $41,405 | High |
| #10 | $41,887 | 22 | $21,500 | Manageable | $17,781 | High | |
| #11 | $39,228 | 21 | $20,500 | Manageable | $21,500 | High | |
| #12 | Lewis UniversityPrivate | $38,289 | 47 | $21,500 | Challenging | $23,044 | 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 →
