Best Online Education Programs in Bloomington, IL (2026)
Bloomington, Illinois has a population of about 78,703. The city’s median household income is $75,449 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 48.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 25 accredited schools offering education programs near Bloomington, with tuition ranging from $16,004 to $68,399 per year for indexed programs. In the Bloomington, IL metro area, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, K-12 at a median $100,780 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Education Schools to Bloomington
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 25 schools in our directory that offer education programs near Bloomington. Distances are calculated from Bloomington city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington, IL | 1.5 mi | $55,704 - $68,399 | – |
| Illinois State University | Normal, IL | 2.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Eureka College | Eureka, IL | 22.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Bradley University | Peoria, IL | 37.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Parkland College | Champaign, IL | 43.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Millikin University | Decatur, IL | 43.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Champaign, IL | 46.7 mi | $16,004 - $34,501 | – |
| University of Illinois Springfield | Springfield, IL | 61.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Kankakee Community College | Kankakee, IL | 72.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, IL | 74.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois education page.
Education Wages Near Bloomington
Bloomington is part of the Bloomington, IL metro area (BLS area code 14010). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Illinois statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teacher | $63,910 | Bloomington, IL | $68,353 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $62,940 | Bloomington, IL | $67,316 |
| Middle School Teacher | $63,760 | Bloomington, IL | $68,193 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $60,410 | Bloomington, IL | $64,610 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $100,780 | Bloomington, IL | $107,786 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $95,520 | IL statewide | $102,160 |
| Tutor | $29,470 | Bloomington, IL | $31,519 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $51,390 | Bloomington, IL | $54,963 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Bloomington at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 78,703 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $75,449 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 48.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 93.5 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in McLean County | 1,075 workers, 52 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Bloomington-Area Cities With Education Programs
- Normal, IL – 3.3 mi away (54,264 pop)
- East Peoria, IL – 33.0 mi away (22,939 pop)
- Pekin, IL – 35.1 mi away (33,038 pop)
- Peoria, IL – 38.9 mi away (265,218 pop)
- Decatur, IL – 42.9 mi away (89,653 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education schools are near Bloomington, IL?
Our directory has 25 accredited schools offering education programs near Bloomington. The closest is Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL (1.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Olivet Nazarene University (74.0 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles near Bloomington?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Bloomington are: Education Administrator, K-12 ($100,780), Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($95,520), Secondary School Teacher ($63,910). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Illinois statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Normal instead of Bloomington?
Normal, IL is 3.3 miles from Bloomington and has its own set of local education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Bloomington an affordable place to study education?
Bloomington’s median household income of $75,449 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Bloomington while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Illinois public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.