Biology, General bachelor's degree programs in Illinois
Compare 32 reporting programs using the same federal field and bachelor's degree credential definition. Earnings are observed four years after completion.
Highest reported earnings in Illinois
Each bar uses the same field, credential, state and earnings year.
1Northwestern UniversityEvanston · $14,800 federal debt$71,1812Augustana CollegeRock Island · $27,000 federal debt$68,6483Benedictine UniversityLisle · $25,278 federal debt$66,9604Millikin UniversityDecatur · $20,631 federal debt$64,8345Illinois State UniversityNormal · $24,672 federal debt$63,7256Roosevelt UniversityChicago · $26,000 federal debt$63,2747Loyola University ChicagoChicago · $25,000 federal debt$62,8218Illinois Wesleyan UniversityBloomington · $27,000 federal debt$62,5419DePaul UniversityChicago · $27,000 federal debt$61,21610Elmhurst UniversityElmhurst · $24,287 federal debt$60,161
CAREER CONTEXT IN IL
What related occupations pay in Illinois
These are common occupational matches for this field, ranked by the strength of the federal education-to-occupation match.
25-1042Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- State median wage
- $99,060
- Middle 50% wage range
- $62,740–$132,780
- State employment
- 2,340
- Projected growth
- +7.3%
- Annual openings
- 4,700
19-4021Biological Technicians
- State median wage
- $55,790
- Middle 50% wage range
- $39,940–$70,060
- State employment
- 790
- Projected growth
- +7.4%
- Annual openings
- 9,400
11-9121Natural Sciences Managers
- State median wage
- $159,670
- Middle 50% wage range
- $115,190–$208,440
- State employment
- 2,810
- Projected growth
- +8.2%
- Annual openings
- 9,200
19-4092Forensic Science Technicians
- State median wage
- $124,790
- Middle 50% wage range
- $79,190–$129,590
- State employment
- 370
- Projected growth
- +13.3%
- Annual openings
- 2,800
19-1029Biological Scientists, All Other
- State median wage
- $82,640
- Middle 50% wage range
- $64,010–$106,020
- State employment
- 1,300
- Projected growth
- +4.7%
- Annual openings
- 4,300
19-1042Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
- State median wage
- $82,330
- Middle 50% wage range
- $65,570–$104,700
- State employment
- 4,700
- Projected growth
- +12.6%
- Annual openings
- 10,500
25-2031Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- State median wage
- $79,990
- Middle 50% wage range
- $62,330–$104,670
- State employment
- 44,670
- Projected growth
- -0.2%
- Annual openings
- 63,500
19-1099Life Scientists, All Other
- State median wage
- $66,190
- Middle 50% wage range
- $57,270–$70,690
- State employment
- 160
- Projected growth
- +6.3%
- Annual openings
- 400
Career wages and employment are BLS estimates for everyone working in each occupation in Illinois; they are not earnings or placement rates for graduates of these programs. Wage ranges show the distribution across workers, not an entry-to-experienced career path. Growth and annual openings are national 2025–35 projections. BLS reports openings in thousands; DegreeVerdict displays the corresponding job count. These figures provide labor-market context and are not used in DegreeVerdict payoff or ROI calculations.
ALL REPORTING PROGRAMS
Compare every available outcome
Sorted by observed year-4 earnings. Open a row for its exact college-and-degree profile.
| # | College | City | Median year-4 earnings | Median federal debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern University | Evanston | $71,181 | $14,800 |
| 2 | Augustana College | Rock Island | $68,648 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Benedictine University | Lisle | $66,960 | $25,278 |
| 4 | Millikin University | Decatur | $64,834 | $20,631 |
| 5 | Illinois State University | Normal | $63,725 | $24,672 |
| 6 | Roosevelt University | Chicago | $63,274 | $26,000 |
| 7 | Loyola University Chicago | Chicago | $62,821 | $25,000 |
| 8 | Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington | $62,541 | $27,000 |
| 9 | DePaul University | Chicago | $61,216 | $27,000 |
| 10 | Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | $60,161 | $24,287 |
| 11 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Edwardsville | $60,059 | $22,396 |
| 12 | Saint Xavier University | Chicago | $59,820 | $26,939 |
| 13 | University of Illinois Springfield | Springfield | $59,817 | $22,116 |
| 14 | University of Chicago | Chicago | $59,794 | $13,500 |
| 15 | McKendree University | Lebanon | $59,238 | $26,833 |
| 16 | University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago | $59,119 | $18,000 |
| 17 | Lewis University | Romeoville | $59,075 | $26,499 |
| 18 | Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais | $58,864 | $26,000 |
| 19 | University of St Francis | Joliet | $58,363 | $27,000 |
| 20 | North Park University | Chicago | $55,253 | $27,000 |
| 21 | Blackburn College | Carlinville | $54,587 | $24,015 |
| 22 | Eastern Illinois University | Charleston | $53,725 | $24,000 |
| 23 | Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | $53,567 | $14,031 |
| 24 | Knox College | Galesburg | $53,231 | $27,000 |
| 25 | Aurora University | Aurora | $52,159 | $24,163 |
| 26 | Northern Illinois University | Dekalb | $52,086 | $23,630 |
| 27 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | Carbondale | $51,947 | $27,000 |
| 28 | Illinois College | Jacksonville | $51,626 | $26,533 |
| 29 | Western Illinois University | Macomb | $50,855 | $27,585 |
| 30 | Lake Forest College | Lake Forest | $48,287 | $27,000 |
| 31 | Chicago State University | Chicago | $46,898 | $39,223 |
| 32 | Dominican University | River Forest | $46,040 | $25,117 |
This is an observed-outcomes comparison, not a universal quality ranking. Missing and privacy-suppressed programs are excluded.
A quick read on Biology, General in Illinois
What do Biology, General bachelor's degree graduates earn in Illinois?
Across 32 reporting programs, the median observed earnings figure is $59,075 four years after completion.
How much federal debt is reported for these programs?
The median is $25,278 among the 32 programs reporting federal debt.
Which Illinois colleges report the highest earnings for this degree?
The table compares the same federal field, credential and earnings year. Northwestern University has the highest reported figure among the programs shown.