Illinois State University was recently recognized as a national leader in educator preparation by College Factual in its 2015 rankings.
The rankings placed the University’s College of Education as the 7th best in the Top Colleges for Education and 11th best in the Top Colleges for Special Education categories. The University’s entire educator preparation program, a collaborative effort engaging five colleges, garnered the No. 9 spot in the Teacher Education and Development, Specific Subjects category.
College Factual states rankings are determined through “outcomes based” metrics aimed at measuring how well a college prepares its graduates for success. Almost 1,400 four-year colleges were evaluated for data points including graduates’ earnings, graduation and retention rates, student loan default rates, and accreditation status. Earlier in the year, Payscale ranked the University fourth on its list for Best Schools for Education Majors by Salary Potential.
“World-class faculty and staff, outstanding alumni leadership and support, strong statewide partnerships, and dedicated, passionate students all contribute to Illinois State University’s unshakeable educator preparation community,” said College of Education Dean Perry L. Schoon. “College Factual is one among several industry evaluators that has recognized and affirmed the University’s and college’s excellence in preparing educational leaders in the field across the U.S. and abroad.”
Illinois State alumni teach in all 50 states in the U.S., 56 countries around the world, and represent more than 1 in 7 teachers in Illinois public schools. Since 2008, approximately 1 in 4 first-year teachers hired by Illinois public schools are graduates of the University. The College of Education prepares more special education teachers than any other college in Illinois, and the fourth most in the U.S.
For more information about the College of Education, University Laboratory Schools, and the University’s campus-wide educator preparation program, view the 2015 annual report.
