Best Online Education Programs in Gurnee, IL (2026)
Gurnee, Illinois has a population of about 30,486. The city’s median household income is $121,410 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 54.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 87 accredited schools offering education programs near Gurnee, 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 Gurnee
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 87 schools in our directory that offer education programs near Gurnee. Distances are calculated from Gurnee city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of Lake County | Grayslake, IL | 3.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science | North Chicago, IL | 6.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lake Forest College | Lake Forest, IL | 10.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Trinity International University-Illinois | Deerfield, IL | 12.3 mi | $12,320 - $47,751 | – |
| Gateway Technical College | Kenosha, WI | 16.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Carthage College | Kenosha, WI | 18.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Wisconsin-Parkside | Kenosha, WI | 19.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine, IL | 21.1 mi | $3,822 - $12,833 | – |
| Oakton College | Des Plaines, IL | 21.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | 25.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois education page.
Education Wages Near Gurnee
Gurnee 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.
Gurnee at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 30,486 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $121,410 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 54.4% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in Lake County | 6,122 workers, 311 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Gurnee-Area Cities With Education Programs
- Waukegan, IL – 3.4 mi away (88,182 pop)
- Grayslake, IL – 5.3 mi away (20,831 pop)
- North Chicago, IL – 5.5 mi away (29,951 pop)
- Libertyville, IL – 6.0 mi away (20,405 pop)
- Round Lake Beach, IL – 7.3 mi away (286,350 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education schools are near Gurnee, IL?
Our directory has 87 accredited schools offering education programs near Gurnee. The closest is College of Lake County in Grayslake, IL (3.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Northwestern University (25.8 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles near Gurnee?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Gurnee 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 Waukegan instead of Gurnee?
Waukegan, IL is 3.4 miles from Gurnee 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 Gurnee an affordable place to study education?
Gurnee’s median household income of $121,410 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Gurnee 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.