Early Childhood Education Degree in Elgin, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Early Childhood Education degree analysis for Elgin, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$40K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$36K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Elgin
Cost of Living
79
index (100 = avg)
Early Childhood Education in Elgin, IL Overview
Elgin, Illinois (pop. 114,797) has 13 colleges offering Early Childhood Education programs. The local cost of living index of 79 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,008/month. Early Childhood Education enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Child Development and Play-Based Learning. The adjusted starting salary in Elgin is approximately $39,500.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$10,014/yr
Private Tuition
$30,900/yr
Room & Board
$9,983/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,897/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
47%
Early Childhood Education Salary in Elgin (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Elgin's cost of living index of 79 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Early Childhood Education salary: $50,000 starting, $45,000 mid-career, $52,000 senior level.Elgin adjustment factor: 0.79x based on the local cost of living index.
Early Childhood Education ROI Calculator for Elgin
Estimate your return on investment for a Early Childhood Education degree using local Elgin tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,014 | Private avg: $30,900
Elgin avg aid: $15,897/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$79,988
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$11,850
vs HS diploma in Elgin
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Elgin
$62,212
Lifetime earnings premium ($142,200) minus total education cost ($79,988)
Student Loan Payoff for Early Childhood Education in Elgin
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Elgin for Early Childhood Education
Judson University
private
$30,900/yr
$123,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Elgin Community College
$4,980/yr
Top Employers for Early Childhood Education in Elgin
Elgin offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Early Childhood Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Elgin Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Early Childhood Education Job Titles
Early Childhood Education in Nearby Illinois Cities
Chicago, IL
$55K starting · COL 109
98 colleges
Aurora, IL
$46K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Joliet, IL
$54K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$51K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$45K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Springfield, IL
$46K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Peoria, IL
$52K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$45K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Education Majors in Elgin
Instructional Design & Technology
$40K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$40K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$40K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$40K starting · 5 yr ROI
Special Education
$40K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Music Education
$40K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$40K starting · 5 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education Degree in Elgin — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Early Childhood Education ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Elgin.