Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at National Louis University

National Louis University graduates enter teaching with concerning debt levels—$42,172 versus just $25,250 at the typical Illinois education program—yet earn below both state and national medians. First-year earnings of $40,484 trail the Illinois median by nearly $4,000, placing graduates in the bottom half of outcomes statewide. More troubling still, these earnings actually decline to $39,344 by year four, while debt sits at more than double the national average for education programs.

The program serves a predominantly working-class population (57% Pell recipients), but the financial math doesn't favor them. With debt exceeding first-year earnings, graduates face immediate financial pressure that teaching salaries—notoriously modest—rarely alleviate. For context, nearby alternatives like UIC and Loyola produce teachers earning 50% more within four years, while schools like Elmhurst manage similar outcomes with far less debt burden.

The value proposition here is straightforward: National Louis charges private-school debt loads while delivering below-average teacher preparation outcomes. Unless your child has compelling reasons to attend this specific institution (location, flexible scheduling, established relationships), the combination of high debt and below-market earnings makes this a financially risky path into teaching. Illinois has 48 education programs to choose from—most offer better returns on investment.