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Best Online Elementary Education Programs in Kankakee, IL (2026)
Kankakee, Illinois has 5 accredited schools offering elementary education programs, with tuition ranging from $8,675 to $47,313 per year for indexed programs. Kankakee has a population of about 24,384. Median household income is $45,119 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 12.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Kankakee, IL metro area, the top-earning elementary education-related role is Middle School Teacher at a median $59,800 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Elementary Education Schools to Kankakee
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer elementary education programs near Kankakee, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Kankakee city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
No school data available.
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois elementary education page.
Elementary Education Wages Near Kankakee
Kankakee is part of the Kankakee, IL metro area (BLS area code 28100). 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teacher | $57,980 | Kankakee, IL | $60,145 |
| Middle School Teacher | $59,800 | Kankakee, IL | $62,033 |
| Secondary School Teacher | $48,500 | Kankakee, IL | $50,311 |
| Teaching Assistant | $35,430 | Kankakee, IL | $36,753 |
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.
Kankakee at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,384 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $45,119 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 12.5% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 96.4 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Kankakee-Area Cities With Elementary Education Programs
- Braidwood, IL – 22.0 mi away (22,563 pop)
- Park Forest, IL – 27.8 mi away (21,785 pop)
- New Lenox, IL – 28.6 mi away (26,217 pop)
- Mokena, IL – 29.8 mi away (20,097 pop)
- Chicago Heights, IL – 30.6 mi away (30,026 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited elementary education schools are near Kankakee, IL?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering elementary education programs near Kankakee. The closest is Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, IL (3.6 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Purdue University Northwest (38.8 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying elementary education roles near Kankakee?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying elementary education-related roles near Kankakee are: Middle School Teacher ($59,800), Elementary School Teacher ($57,980), Secondary School Teacher ($48,500). 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 Braidwood instead of Kankakee?
Braidwood, IL is 22.0 miles from Kankakee and has its own set of local elementary education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Kankakee an affordable place to study elementary education?
Kankakee’s median household income of $45,119 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Kankakee 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 Elementary Education Programs
- Is an Elementary Education degree worth it?
- Main Elementary Education degree guide
- Online Elementary Education programs in Illinois
- Elementary Education programs by state
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Data verified: August 10, 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.
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