Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $44,613 at Illinois State University come in 7% above the national median of $41,690 for Teacher Education programs.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.7x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
Some AI exposure exists in Teacher Education's typical career paths, with 43% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $44,613 far exceeding the $20,875 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #110 of 348 Teacher Education programs, Illinois State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Earnings grow from $44,613 to $55,738 over five years — a 25% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.