What can you do with a Elementary Education degree from Illinois State University?

First, some facts. Of the Elementary Education graduates from Illinois State University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 28 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 80%, Elementary Education graduates from Illinois State University have a much higher likelihood (+13%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 80%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 42% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Elementary Education graduate.

See the details:

View a random Elementary Education graduate from Illinois State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 1%

We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2019 from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Elementary Education. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Student
Inland Real Estate School, Inc.
Jul 2019 - Sep 2019
Being a student at Inland Real Estate School, Inc. does not utilize any specific skills or knowledge related to a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education.

Permanent Sub
Community Consolidated School District 15
Aug 2019 - Sep 2019
The role of Permanent Sub at Community Consolidated School District 15 directly involves applying knowledge and skills from the Elementary Education degree in a classroom setting.

Administrative Assistant
KeyBanc Capital Markets
Sep 2019 - Present
The position as an Administrative Assistant at KeyBanc Capital Markets does not require or utilize any core qualifications associated with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, as it focuses on administrative tasks unrelated to education.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Elementary Education degree from Illinois State University?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When you look at the job histories of people who graduated with a degree in Elementary Education from Illinois State University, you’ll notice a pretty clear pattern. A significant number of graduates ended up working directly in educational roles such as elementary school teachers, special education teachers, and paraprofessionals. These positions are clearly relevant since they require the teaching methodologies and developmental psychology knowledge acquired during their studies. Roles like 3rd Grade Teacher, 6th Grade Math and Science Teacher, and Special Education Teacher not only utilize their degree but also demonstrate the practical application of their skills in real classroom settings. However, not all the careers they pursued were closely related to education. For example, some graduates took jobs as baristas, sales associates, or in administrative roles where their education background wasn't particularly used. While positions like barista or office manager can hone other skills like communication and organization, they don’t leverage the foundational knowledge gained in Elementary Education. Overall, while many ISU alumni find jobs relevant to their degree, there's a noticeable faction that ventures off into careers that don't fully utilize their education training. So, in short, if you’re considering this path, expect a mix of teaching roles that align well with your degree, alongside others that may not connect to your passion for education as directly!

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Elementary Education graduates (this is across all Elementary Education graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Illinois State University):

What kind of career trajectories do Elementary Education graduates from Illinois State University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

It looks like graduates from the Elementary Education program at Illinois State University tend to have career paths that are pretty closely tied to education. Most of the profiles show that right after graduation, many of these folks jumped straight into teaching positions. For example, several graduates began their careers as classroom teachers in various school districts, often moving between different grade levels or taking on seasonal roles like summer camp counselors. Over time, they seem to have stuck primarily to educational roles, with a few diversifying into related fields like special education or educational program coordination.

Fast forward a few years, and many of these graduates appear to be climbing the ladder within the education sector. After about five years, it’s common to see individuals taking on more specialized roles like special education teachers or even leadership positions, such as coordinators or instructional specialists. Even those who started down different paths eventually returned to education in some capacity. Notably, while there are a few who ventured outside the classroom for a while, the majority have transitioned back into educational roles, showcasing a strong commitment to teaching and helping students. Overall, if you’re looking to study Elementary Education here, it seems like a solid career choice with plenty of opportunities to grow in the field!

How hard is a Elementary Education degree from Illinois State University?

Honestly, getting a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at Illinois State University is pretty challenging, but not in an impossible way. You'll definitely be doing a mix of coursework that covers both educational theory and practical teaching skills, along with field experiences where you get to work directly with kids. It’s a major that requires a lot of dedication, with a hefty amount of reading, lesson planning, and hands-on projects. While it’s not the toughest major out there, it does require a genuine passion for teaching and some serious organizational skills to juggle everything. So, if you’re into working with children and are willing to put in the effort, it can be a rewarding experience even though it might feel like a lot at times!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Elementary Education.

Do Elementary Education graduates from Illinois State University tend to make good money?

It looks like the graduates from Illinois State University have mostly stuck to jobs in education, which is pretty cool, but the pay can be hit or miss in that field. The earlier graduates, especially from 2010 to 2013, have had some pretty variable roles, like translating and working as an ESL coordinator, which might not have lined their pockets too well, especially in the early years. Then there are a few who are still grinding as teachers, while others branched out into admin roles or sales with Aflac—definitely a smart move if you're looking for a higher paycheck! On the whole, they probably aren’t raking in the big bucks compared to other careers, but many seem to be finding their niche, especially in administrative and specialized teaching roles that could offer better stability and financial growth over time. So, while they're not exactly swimming in cash, they seem to be making it work and enjoying what they do!

What buzzwords do Elementary Education graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Elementary Education (this is across all Elementary Education graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Illinois State University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Elementary Education?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Elementary Education (ordered by the average relevance score of their Elementary Education graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Northern Illinois University 95 13
University of Arizona 94 10
University of Iowa 93 14
Kansas State University 91 12
Michigan State University 89 30
Florida International University 89 14
Utah State University 89 10
Ball State University 88 14
Central Washington University 87 13
Western Governors University 84 44
Eastern Michigan University 84 14
Arizona State University 83 25
East Carolina University 83 26
Towson University 82 17
Indiana University Bloomington 80 15
Liberty University 80 16
Illinois State University 80 28
Appalachian State University 80 16
University of North Florida 80 13
Oklahoma State University 79 14
Penn State University 78 18
Brigham Young University - Idaho 78 13
Western Illinois University 78 11
University of Central Florida 77 41
Northern Arizona University 77 19
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 77 12
University of Northern Iowa 77 12
University of Florida 75 10
Utah Valley University 75 11
University of Northern Colorado 75 16
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 74 14
Florida Atlantic University 73 19
University of Mississippi 73 10
West Chester University of Pennsylvania 72 12
Grand Canyon University 71 20
Brigham Young University 70 17
Western Kentucky University 69 12
University of Phoenix 67 31
University of Missouri-Columbia 62 10