Best Online Education Programs in Des Plaines, IL (2026)
Des Plaines, Illinois has a population of about 59,408. The city’s median household income is $94,303 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 38.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 86 accredited schools offering education programs near Des Plaines, with tuition ranging from $3,822 to $47,751 per year for indexed programs. In the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, K-12 at a median $126,800 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Education Schools to Des Plaines
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 86 schools in our directory that offer education programs near Des Plaines. Distances are calculated from Des Plaines city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakton College | Des Plaines, IL | 2.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Hebrew Theological College | Skokie, IL | 7.4 mi | $14,700 - $21,742 | – |
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine, IL | 9.4 mi | $3,822 - $12,833 | – |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst, IL | 9.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Dominican University | River Forest, IL | 9.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago, IL | 10.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Concordia University-Chicago | River Forest, IL | 10.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North Park University | Chicago, IL | 10.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Trinity International University-Illinois | Deerfield, IL | 11.4 mi | $12,320 - $47,751 | – |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | 11.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois education page.
Education Wages Near Des Plaines
Des Plaines is part of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (BLS area code 16980). 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 | $80,440 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $77,645 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $75,020 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $72,413 |
| Middle School Teacher | $75,690 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $73,060 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $60,590 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $58,485 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $126,800 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $122,394 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $99,260 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $95,811 |
| Tutor | $35,490 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $34,257 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $63,820 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $61,602 |
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.
Des Plaines at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 59,408 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $94,303 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 38.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in Cook County | 87,382 workers, 2,202 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Des Plaines-Area Cities With Education Programs
- Mount Prospect, IL – 2.8 mi away (54,171 pop)
- Park Ridge, IL – 3.3 mi away (37,496 pop)
- Niles, IL – 4.7 mi away (29,617 pop)
- Elk Grove Village, IL – 5.1 mi away (32,931 pop)
- Glenview, IL – 5.3 mi away (47,475 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education schools are near Des Plaines, IL?
Our directory has 86 accredited schools offering education programs near Des Plaines. The closest is Oakton College in Des Plaines, IL (2.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Northwestern University (11.4 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles near Des Plaines?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Des Plaines are: Education Administrator, K-12 ($126,800), Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($99,260), Secondary School Teacher ($80,440). 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 Mount Prospect instead of Des Plaines?
Mount Prospect, IL is 2.8 miles from Des Plaines 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 Des Plaines an affordable place to study education?
Des Plaines’s median household income of $94,303 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Des Plaines 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.