13 Teacher Education colleges in Illinois with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $62,089.
Top Teacher Education graduates on this list earn over $81,054—and these schools actually serve the students who need them most. With mobility scores at the 60th percentile or above, these 13 programs deliver both access and results.
University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads the rankings, producing Teacher Education graduates earning $81,054 while maintaining a 98th percentile mobility score. Across this list, average graduate earnings reach $62,089—demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes, not just access.
Governors State University serves 52% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $58,169. The best mobility schools also deliver manageable debt: Northeastern Illinois University graduates face just a 7% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Access AND affordability.
Earnings: $81,054 | Mobility: 98th percentile
52% Pell students with $58,169 earnings
7% payment burden | Excellent
14% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $81,054 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Challenging | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | Loyola University ChicagoPrivate | $71,530 | $24,157 | Good | $54,045 | High | 76th percentile mobility |
| #3 | Illinois Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | $70,871 | — | — | — | — | 81th percentile mobility |
| #4 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | $68,751 | $23,168 | Good | $41,563 | High | 85th percentile mobility |
| #5 | $68,740 | $16,704 | Excellent | $24,323 | Manageable | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | $62,117 | $20,482 | Good | $28,767 | Challenging | 94th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | $58,169 | $18,618 | Good | $13,991 | Challenging | 78th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | $57,808 | $22,162 | Good | $19,508 | Challenging | 92th percentile mobility | |
| #9 | $56,346 | $20,500 | Manageable | $21,500 | High | 89th percentile mobility | |
| #10 | $54,163 | $25,251 | Manageable | $20,764 | High | 70th percentile mobility | |
| #11 | $53,390 | $21,543 | Excellent | $19,500 | Manageable | 88th percentile mobility | |
| #12 | $52,234 | $14,600 | Excellent | $13,578 | Manageable | 80th percentile mobility | |
| #13 | $51,989 | $21,500 | Good | $17,781 | Manageable | 71th percentile mobility |
Our social mobility rankings answer: "Which schools deliver the best outcomes for students from low-income backgrounds?"
This is not simply "which schools admit the most low-income students" — it's which schools both serve low-income students and deliver strong earnings outcomes.
Data based on May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
