WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-4% vs national median3,198 grads tracked

Education at Western Illinois University

Ranked 213th of 339 bachelor's programs in Education by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$37,197
middle 50%: $27,544 – $47,174
Median · 5 years out
$51,779
middle 50%: $42,933 – $62,075
Median · 10 years out
$60,980
middle 50%: $49,661 – $73,252

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Education (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Western Illinois University's bachelor's program in Education earn a median $37,197 one year after graduating, rising to $60,980 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 4% below the national median of $53,655 for this field, ranking 213th of 339 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
8.1 yrs
≈ $9,459 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
$52,095 · 5 yrs out
Franklin College of Indiana
$52,018 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Buffalo State University
$51,985 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Kansas City
$51,946 · 5 yrs out
Erskine College
$51,840 · 5 yrs out
Middle Georgia State University
$51,793 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Northwest
$51,774 · 5 yrs out
Kent State University
$51,717 · 5 yrs out
Clemson University
$51,620 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Parkside
$51,505 · 5 yrs out
Ball State University
$51,449 · 5 yrs out
Coastal Carolina University
$51,442 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Western Illinois University

Education (Doctorate)
$163,593 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$107,538 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$98,269 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Master's)
$97,417 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$97,160 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,133 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$96,422 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$84,414 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$82,090 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$82,014 · 5 yrs out
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (Bachelor's)
$81,320 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$80,729 · 5 yrs out

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