The College of Education is the oldest college in the University and enrolls more than 3,000 students across its doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate education programs.
The College of Education has been continuously accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) or the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) since 1954.
The College of Education's faculty and staff secured $7.05 million in external grants and contracts in 2020.
Professional Education Units
Illinois State University is ranked the twelfth best college offering degrees in education in the U.S., according to College Factual.
Illinois State University was the largest preparer of teachers in the Midwest and the fourth largest producer of teachers in the nation from 2015-2020.
Ranked as the best college offering degrees in special education in the United States, according to College Factual.
Illinois State is one of only two schools in the nation with both a low vision and a deaf and hard hearing program, and is one of only eight schools offering an undergraduate low vision program.
More Illinois State graduates have earned National Board Certification, the gold standard for accomplished teaching, than alumni from any other university in the Midwest, among reporting teachers.
ISU teacher candidates score significantly higher on the edTPA compared to the rest of the state and country.
The Professional Education Unit includes 44 education programs.
There are over 60,000 Illinois State education alumni living and working in all 50 states and 68 countries worldwide.
During the 2021-2022 school year, the College of Education awarded over 416 education scholarships totaling more than $691,000.
More than 96% of teacher education graduates received a "proficient" or "excellent" teacher evaluation over the last three years.
More than 80% of our students were employed in public schools in Illinois over the last three years.
Laboratory Schools
The University Laboratory Schools includes Thomas Metcalf School and University High School and serves 1,000 students.
27 percent of Laboratory School teachers are National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) or are completing National Board Certification, compared to 3 percent nationwide.
Founded in 1857, Illinois State's Laboratory Schools are among the oldest and largest in the U.S.
Teacher candidates engage in approximately 40,000 clinical hours at Metcalf School and University High School each year.
University High School is considered to be the 32nd Best Public High School and the 27th Best Public High School for STEM in Illinois according to Niche in 2021.
University
Illinois State made U.S. News & World Report 's 2021 rankings of America's best public national universities at No. 98, based on academic quality and excellence. It ranked 80th best graduate school for education.
Washington Monthly ranked the University 10th best college for the money in the Midwest in 2020.
Founded in 1857, Illinois State was the first public university in Illinois.