Illinois State University
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Best Online Education Programs in Ottawa, IL (2026)
Ottawa, Illinois has 5 accredited schools offering education programs, with tuition ranging from $20,325 to $47,066 per year for indexed programs. Ottawa has a population of about 18,714. Median household income is $73,011 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Illinois, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, K-12 at a median $113,360 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Education Schools to Ottawa
The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer education programs near Ottawa. Distances are calculated from Ottawa city center.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Ottawa. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Trinity Christian College
Published tuition$20,325 - $47,066
Online programs--
Chicago State University
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
DePaul University
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Loyola University Chicago
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois education page.
Education Wages Near Ottawa
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (Illinois, statewide) |
|---|---|
| Secondary School Teacher | $79,990 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $75,320 |
| Middle School Teacher | $76,110 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $61,560 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $113,360 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $99,770 |
| Tutor | $37,400 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $62,420 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 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.
Ottawa at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,714 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $73,011 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 21.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Education-related employment in LaSalle County | 378 workers, 18 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Ottawa-Area Cities With Education Programs
- Peru, IL – 15.7 mi away (30,795 pop)
- Braidwood, IL – 32.1 mi away (22,563 pop)
- Oswego, IL – 34.3 mi away (34,571 pop)
- Plainfield, IL – 36.4 mi away (42,933 pop)
- Joliet, IL – 37.2 mi away (148,262 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education schools are near Ottawa, IL?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering education programs near Ottawa. The closest is Illinois State University in Normal, IL (58.4 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Loyola University Chicago (75.3 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles in Illinois?
Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying education-related roles in Illinois are: Education Administrator, K-12 ($113,360), Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($99,770), Secondary School Teacher ($79,990). Wages for Ottawa workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.
Should I look at programs in Peru instead of Ottawa?
Peru, IL is 15.7 miles from Ottawa 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 Ottawa an affordable place to study education?
Ottawa’s median household income of $73,011 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Ottawa 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.
Learn More About Education Programs
- Education accreditation: what to look for
- Education concentrations and specializations
- Is a Education degree worth it?
- Main Education degree guide
- Online Education programs in Illinois
- Education programs by state
Other Programs Available in Ottawa
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Ottawa:
- Criminal Justice programs in Ottawa, IL
- Nursing programs in Ottawa, IL
- Business Administration programs in Ottawa, IL
- Computer Science programs in Ottawa, IL
- Psychology programs in Ottawa, IL
- Engineering programs in Ottawa, IL
- Technology programs in Ottawa, IL
- Liberal Arts programs in Ottawa, IL
- Healthcare programs in Ottawa, IL
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- Healthcare Administration programs in Ottawa, IL
- Social Work programs in Ottawa, IL
- Counseling programs in Ottawa, IL
Related from Our Editorial Library
- Best Accredited Online Colleges (2026)
- Best Online Colleges Ranking
- Effective Learning Strategies for Online Students
Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; 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.