Accredited Online Teaching Degrees in Illinois
Teachers are more needed than ever due to the growing teacher shortage. With an online teaching degree, you can fortunately quickly launch your teaching career.
The best online institutions for teaching degrees and certificates allow you to specialize in a certain discipline or student demographic and are reasonably priced. To guarantee quality and academic rigor, many of the best online teaching programs are also accredited.
In order to assist you select the right school for you, we ranked the top online teaching degrees using objective data on costs, curricula, and graduation outcomes.
Here is an overview of the program duration and admission requirements
| program | Credits(may vary) | Duration(may vary) | Admission requirements(may vary) |
| Associate degree | 60 credits | 2 years | High school diploma or GED certificate |
| Bachelor’s degree | 120 credits | 4 years | High school graduate / (GED) certificate or an equivalent diploma. |
| Master’s degree | 40-60 credits | 2 years | A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. A minimum GPA score of 3.0 |
Associate degree programs in online teaching
1.Parkland College
Program: A.A.S. in early childhood education
Tuition: $110 per credit hour
Accreditation: the program and the school received accreditation through HCL
Financial aid: 68% of students obtain financial aid.
The early childhood education teacher preparation program that may be completed online provides a rich curriculum and real-world experiences. Students learn about child growth, how to create effective lessons, and how to lead a classroom. They interact with one another and take part in practical exercises through virtual classrooms. Graduates are well-equipped to enter the competitive field of early childhood education.
2.Southwestern Illinois College
Program: A.A. Elementary Education program.
Tuition: $118 per credit hour
Accreditation: the program and the school are accredited by HLC.
Financial aid: Available with 62% of the students receiving the aid.
The actions outlined below should be taken by students who intend to complete an Associate in Arts degree and then transfer to a four-year institution or university to major in Elementary Education. You should speak with a SWIC counselor before enrolling each semester and become familiar with the particular requirements of the four-year institution to which you intend to transfer.
3.Harper College
Program: A.A. Elementary Education program.
Tuition: $133.50 per credit hour
Accreditation: the program and the school are accredited by HLC
Financial aid: Available with 38% of the students receiving the aid.
You can achieve an elementary education bachelor’s degree by transferring to a four-year university after completing Harper’s associate’s degree program. You get practical exposure to various educational scenarios in the classroom setting through clinical experiences at nearby schools.
4.Illinois Central College
Program: A.A. in Education
Tuition: $155 per credit hour
Accreditation: the program and the school are accredited by HLC.
Financial aid: Available with 57% of the students receiving the aid.
Compared to most comparable programs, this program offers greater instruction, in-classroom observation, and participation in class. It assists you in deciding the subject you want to teach and in determining whether secondary education is the best choice for you. It also lays a good foundation in your teaching career.
Accredited bachelor degree programs in online teaching
1.Western Illinois University
Program: B.S. in Education
Tuition: $296.10 per credit hour
Accreditation: the program and the school are accredited by HLC
Financial aid: Available with 56% of the students receiving the aid.
With the help of this curriculum, students can get certified to teach grades 1-6. The course material covers subjects including educational psychology, instructional methodologies, and assessment techniques. It is also a good start to your career in teaching.
2.Governors State University
Program: B.S. in education
Tuition: $313 per credit hour
Accreditation: the program and the school are accredited by HLC
Financial aid: Available with 90% of the students receiving the aid.
Students in this program are prepared to teach grades 1-6. The curriculum puts an emphasis on things like diversity in the classroom and literacy instruction.
3.University of Illinois Springfield
Program: B.A. in Education
Tuition: $313.50 per credit hour
Accreditation: the program and the school are accredited by HLC
Financial aid: Available with 65% of the students receiving the aid.
Students in this program are prepared to apply for teaching licenses in Illinois public schools. It includes topics like classroom management, educational technology, and instructional methodologies.
4.Southern Illinois University
Program: B.S. in elementary education
Tuition: $321.50 per credit hour
Accreditation: the program and the school are accredited by HLC
Financial aid: Available with 70% of the students receiving the aid.
This program prepares students for teacher certification in grades K-9. The coursework includes subjects like curriculum design, assessment methods, and teaching diverse learners.
5.Eastern Illinois University
Program: B.S. In elementary education
Tuition: $323.63 per credit hour
Accreditation: the program and the school are accredited by HLC
Financial aid: Available with 70% of the students receiving the aid.
Students pursuing initial teacher certification for grades 1-6 should enroll in this program. Coursework includes lectures on subjects including curriculum design and teaching strategies.
6.Northern Illinois University
Program: B.S. in elementary education
Tuition: $360.80 per credit hour
Accreditation: the program and the school are accredited by HLC
Financial aid: Available with 69% of the students receiving the aid.
Students who complete this degree are prepared to teach elementary school. The course material includes topics including classroom management, instructional practices, and the development of children and adolescents.
7.National Louis University
Program: B.A. in elementary education
Tuition: $430 per credit hour
Accreditation: both the program and the school received accreditation through HLC
Financial aid: Available with 95% of the students receiving the aid.
Students in this program are prepared to obtain teaching licenses for grades K–9. The curriculum emphasizes topics including classroom management techniques, literacy instruction, and mathematics education.
Accredited master’s degree programs in online teaching
1.Illinois State University
Program: M.S. in Education
Tuition: $399 per credit hour
Accreditation: the program received accreditation through CAEP and the school received accreditation through HLC.
Financial aid: Available with 60% of the students receiving the aid.
For certified instructors who wish to learn more about curriculum, instruction, and assessment, this program has been created. A variety of electives are available to customize the degree to individual interests.
2.University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Program: M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction.
Tuition: $510 per credit hour
Accreditation: the program and the school are accredited by HLC.
Financial aid: Available with 45% of the students receiving the aid.
This degree focuses on cutting-edge instructional design, curriculum development, and teaching strategies. It is intended for instructors who want to advance their careers and improve their teaching abilities. For people who have a degree in a subject other than education who want to be teachers, master’s degree programs leading to teacher licensure are also available.
3.Northern Illinois University
Program: M.S. in Education
Tuition: $530 per credit hour
Accreditation: the program and the school are accredited by HLC.
Financial aid: Available with 69% of the students receiving the aid.
The design of curricula, teaching methods, and educational leadership are the main topics of this degree. It equips teachers to assume leadership positions in the development of curricula and the enhancement of instruction.
4.University of Illinois Springfield
Program: M.A. In Education
Tuition: $681 per credit hour
Accreditation: the program and the school are accredited by HLC.
Financial aid: Available with 65% of the students receiving the aid.
For educators looking to better their careers and develop professionally, this curriculum has been created. It addresses subjects like curriculum design, instructional technologies, and assessment methods. created especially for teachers who want to take on leadership responsibilities both inside and beyond the classroom.
5.Loyola University Chicago
Program: Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction.
Tuition: $949 per credit hour
Accreditation: the program and the school are accredited by HLC.
Financial aid: Available with 99% of the students receiving the aid
This course focuses on instructional leadership, assessment methods, and curriculum design. It equips teachers for more senior positions in curriculum development and instruction improvement. The EDD in Curriculum and Instruction, which was created in a framework for practitioners and researchers, trains you to be competent in six fundamental areas:
Curriculum, instruction, research, program evaluation, leadership, and professionalism
Job outlook for online teaching degrees in Illinois
Between now and 2026, there will be an increase in teaching job vacancies in Illinois. High school teachers’ employment is expected to grow by 5% between 2021 and 2031, which is about average for all occupations.
During the next ten years, there are expected to be, on average, 77,900 openings for high school teachers. Many of those positions are anticipated to be brought on by the need to replace workers who change careers or leave the workforce due to retirement.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Is a degree in online teaching worth it?
Yes, many students all across the world believe that online degrees are worthwhile. The flexibility and convenience that e-learning provides are two of its main benefits. It enables students to juggle their education with other obligations like work or family. With an online degree, students are not constrained to a certain campus location and have access to a variety of instructional materials.
