Masters in Education Degrees in Illinois

According to a 2018 Education Week report, the average Illinois teacher’s salary of $64,993 is enough for the state to rank among the top 10 in the country. This is primarily because teachers in Chicago can make around $10,000 more than the national average.  And, according to the Illinois Network News, recent state legislation requires that by July 2019 the base teacher salary across the state will be $40,000. Payscale.com reports that starting high school teachers in Chicago earn $47,854.

 

Sound enticing? Read on for more information on where and how you can earn your master of arts in teaching in Illinois, different careers you go into after earning your graduate education degree (hint: it’s not just teaching!), or request information from one of the schools listed below to take the first step towards earning your advanced degree in education! 

Earning your Master’s in Education in Illinois

The 2018 annual US News report on the top graduate education programs in the country ranks two Illinois universities in the top 25 in the nation. If you want to earn your Master of Arts in Teaching, Illinois offers several options, as well as other advanced education degree options:

 
As you can see from the table, if you want to earn your master’s in education, Chicago might be a great place to look. If you aren’t a big city person, the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign might be another great school to attend. If one of these or any of the other options listed on this page appeal to you but you don’t know how to afford it, we’ve got some great resources and financial aid options listed in the section below.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

If you’re looking for education master’s programs, Chicago might be a great place to look – but programs there can be pricey, and so can other programs across the state. If you’ve decided you want to earn an advanced education degree but need help paying for it, check out a few grant and scholarship options we’ve compiled just for you:

• When you apply for FAFSA in Illinois, you’re automatically entered into consideration for the State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant, the Federal Pell Grant, and the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG).
• The Illinois Student Assistance Commission lists other grants offered to qualifying students in Illinois, including the Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Program, the Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program, the Grant Program for Dependents of Police or Fire Officers, and a few others.
• Other organizations like the National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers and other private foundations may offer scholarship opportunities.
• Graduate students interested in getting involved in research to help solve issues facing education may find opportunities through the state’s universities or other organizations.
• You can also check with the school you’re interested in to see if they can give you any information about assistance that may be available.

Working in Illinois with a Master’s in Education Degree

According to careeronestop.org, jobs for Illinois elementary school teachers are expected to grow  4 percent from between now and 226, or about 4,330 job openings a year.  Employment growth and wages vary by district, with Chicago offering the highest median salaries:  $63,190 compared to $58,820. Experience and education levels provide increases in salaries for educators so, not factoring in years of experience, teachers who hold a master’s degree earn more than those who have not completed an advanced degree. 

Universities, government, private industry and non-profit groups often conduct, sponsor, or fund research projects, so teachers interested in getting involved in research may find diverse opportunities within the state, including:

• UIC public research
• The Illinois Education Research Council
• The Higher Education Analytics Center with NORC 

Opportunities also exist outside of teaching. Teachers with a master’s degree in education often move into corporate jobs as trainers or other positions that require good communication skills.  A few options in Illinois include:

• Nonprofits such as the Alzheimer’s Association
• Jobs within professional teaching organizations, such as the Illinois Education Association
• Careers in Education Technology (Ed Tech) at companies such as Academic Approach 

Illinois is a great place to earn your degree or begin your career in education. Request information today from any of the schools listed on this page to get underway!

error:SSL certificate problem: unable to get local issuer certificate