Best Online Education Programs in Palatine, IL (2026)
Palatine, Illinois has a population of about 66,548. The city’s median household income is $95,950 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 49.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 88 accredited schools offering education programs near Palatine, 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 Palatine
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 88 schools in our directory that offer education programs near Palatine. Distances are calculated from Palatine city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine, IL | 2.9 mi | $3,822 - $12,833 | – |
| Oakton College | Des Plaines, IL | 9.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Trinity International University-Illinois | Deerfield, IL | 10.0 mi | $12,320 - $47,751 | – |
| Judson University | Elgin, IL | 13.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lake Forest College | Lake Forest, IL | 14.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science | North Chicago, IL | 15.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Elgin Community College | Elgin, IL | 15.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst, IL | 16.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Hebrew Theological College | Skokie, IL | 16.3 mi | $14,700 - $21,742 | – |
| College of Lake County | Grayslake, IL | 16.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois education page.
Education Wages Near Palatine
Palatine 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.
Palatine at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 66,548 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $95,950 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 49.8% | 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 Palatine-Area Cities With Education Programs
- Rolling Meadows, IL – 3.1 mi away (24,021 pop)
- Arlington Heights, IL – 3.5 mi away (75,525 pop)
- Buffalo Grove, IL – 5.4 mi away (41,346 pop)
- Wheeling, IL – 6.2 mi away (38,315 pop)
- Schaumburg, IL – 6.4 mi away (74,446 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education schools are near Palatine, IL?
Our directory has 88 accredited schools offering education programs near Palatine. The closest is William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, IL (2.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is College of Lake County (16.4 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles near Palatine?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Palatine 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 Rolling Meadows instead of Palatine?
Rolling Meadows, IL is 3.1 miles from Palatine 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 Palatine an affordable place to study education?
Palatine’s median household income of $95,950 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Palatine 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.