Best Online Education Programs in Waukegan, IL (2026)
Waukegan, Illinois has a population of about 88,919. The city’s median household income is $70,578 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 89 accredited schools offering education programs near Waukegan, 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 Waukegan
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 89 schools in our directory that offer education programs near Waukegan. Distances are calculated from Waukegan city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science | North Chicago, IL | 4.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| College of Lake County | Grayslake, IL | 7.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lake Forest College | Lake Forest, IL | 8.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Trinity International University-Illinois | Deerfield, IL | 11.9 mi | $12,320 - $47,751 | – |
| Gateway Technical College | Kenosha, WI | 16.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Carthage College | Kenosha, WI | 17.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Wisconsin-Parkside | Kenosha, WI | 19.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Oakton College | Des Plaines, IL | 21.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine, IL | 22.4 mi | $3,822 - $12,833 | – |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | 24.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois education page.
Education Wages Near Waukegan
Waukegan 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.
Waukegan at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 88,919 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $70,578 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 21.0% | 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 Waukegan-Area Cities With Education Programs
- Gurnee, IL – 3.4 mi away (30,957 pop)
- North Chicago, IL – 3.7 mi away (29,951 pop)
- Zion, IL – 6.3 mi away (24,029 pop)
- Libertyville, IL – 7.5 mi away (20,405 pop)
- Grayslake, IL – 8.5 mi away (20,831 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education schools are near Waukegan, IL?
Our directory has 89 accredited schools offering education programs near Waukegan. The closest is Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago, IL (4.8 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Northwestern University (24.1 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles near Waukegan?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Waukegan 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 Gurnee instead of Waukegan?
Gurnee, IL is 3.4 miles from Waukegan 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 Waukegan an affordable place to study education?
Waukegan’s median household income of $70,578 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Waukegan 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.