Education STEM OPT Jobs in Illinois

F-1 STEM OPT education jobs in Illinois draw international graduates to institutions like the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and Chicago Public Schools, alongside edtech and research-focused employers across the state. Chicago's dense university corridor and suburban district headquarters make Illinois one of the more active markets for STEM-designated education roles supporting F-1 OPT work authorization.

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Overview

Open Jobs42+
Work Type98% On-site
Top LocationChicago, IL
Most JobsRush University Medical Center

Showing 5 of 42+ Education STEM OPT Jobs in Illinois

The University of Chicago
Clinical Research Coordinator 1
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The University of Chicago
Added 3d ago
Clinical Research Coordinator 1
The University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Healthcare Administration
Allied Health
Clinical Trials
Laboratory Science
$50k - $65k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Washington University in St. Louis
Clinical Research Coordinator I
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Washington University in St. Louis
Added 1w ago
Clinical Research Coordinator I
Washington University in St. Louis
Shiloh, Illinois
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$47k - $71k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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University of Chicago
Research Professional
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University of Chicago
Added 3mo ago
Research Professional
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Environmental & Physical Sciences
Clinical Trials
On-Site
Associate's

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Rush University Medical Center
Post Doctoral Research Fellow
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Rush University Medical Center
Added 4mo ago
Post Doctoral Research Fellow
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois
Laboratory Research
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Research & Academia
Clinical Trials
$62k - $76k/yr
On-Site
Doctorate

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Northwestern University
Lab Manager
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Northwestern University
Added 4mo ago
Lab Manager
Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Healthcare Administration
$71k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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STEM OPT Education Job Roles in Illinois

Laboratory Research29 jobs
Clinical Trials28 jobs
Clinical Trials & Medical Research27 jobs
Healthcare Administration21 jobs
Biotech & Life Sciences16 jobs
Project & Program Management6 jobs
Project Management5 jobs
Research & Academia5 jobs
Data Science3 jobs
Data Analytics3 jobs

See all 42+ Education STEM OPT Jobs in Illinois

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Education STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

Which education companies and institutions sponsor F-1 STEM OPT visas in Illinois?

Illinois education employers with a history of F-1 STEM OPT hiring include large research universities such as the University of Illinois system, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago, as well as edtech companies headquartered in the Chicago metro area. K-12 districts and curriculum technology firms in Naperville, Evanston, and the North Shore suburbs have also filed Labor Condition Applications for education roles. Sponsorship patterns vary by employer and role, so checking DOL LCA filing history for each organization is the most reliable way to verify.

Which cities in Illinois have the most education F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?

Chicago accounts for the largest concentration of F-1 STEM OPT education opportunities in Illinois, particularly in university research, edtech product development, and data-focused instructional design roles. Champaign-Urbana is a secondary hub given the University of Illinois flagship campus and affiliated research institutes. Suburban corridors along the I-88 technology corridor, including Naperville and Lisle, host edtech and educational software employers that recruit STEM OPT candidates for engineering and data science functions within education organizations.

What types of education roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in Illinois?

Roles that qualify for STEM OPT must appear on the Department of Homeland Security STEM Designated Degree Program List and align with your degree field. Within the education industry, qualifying positions commonly include data analyst roles at school districts or edtech companies, software engineers at educational technology firms, research scientists at university labs, instructional technology specialists with a STEM-designated degree, and biostatisticians or data scientists supporting education research initiatives. Purely administrative or non-STEM instructional roles generally do not qualify regardless of the employer.

How do I find education F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Illinois?

Migrate Mate filters education jobs in Illinois specifically by F-1 STEM OPT eligibility, pulling from verified DOL Labor Condition Application data so you can see which employers have an actual sponsorship filing history rather than relying on job description language alone. Searching Migrate Mate by Illinois location and the Education industry category surfaces roles at universities, edtech companies, and school districts where STEM OPT candidates have been hired. This approach saves time compared to manually cross-referencing OFLC Wage Search filings against job postings.

Are there any Illinois-specific or education-industry considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?

Illinois requires E-Verify enrollment for employers with state government contracts, which can signal readiness to work with international employees on STEM OPT. Education employers in Illinois subject to Illinois school code, such as K-12 districts, may have additional hiring timelines tied to the academic calendar that compress the window for completing the I-983 Training Plan before an OPT start date. University employers often have dedicated international scholar offices familiar with STEM OPT reporting obligations, which can make the extension process more straightforward than at smaller edtech startups. Confirming that your prospective employer has an active E-Verify account is a required step before a STEM OPT extension is approved by USCIS.