DegreeVerdict
ROI Calculator
← Program directory
COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Biology, General bachelor's degree at Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, IL · Public

What this page covers

Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to similar programs.

$3,489 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
44.7% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−62% · Negative payoff
Available price data
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$53,725 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+86%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$31,278 → $58,333
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
30Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
51Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
73Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

249Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
41Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
156Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
145Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
8.8%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 23 non-completers
37Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$53,725$18,917 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 15 Parent PLUS borrowers.

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$12,786

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$24,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$53,725

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$254/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →
AVERAGE NET PRICE$12,786Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$26,996Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE65.3%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE47.4%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$31,278Year 1
$53,725Year 4
$58,333Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.7% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$4,477
Estimated loan payment$254
73borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$53,725 vs. $57,214

$3,489 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$99,060 median wageIL estimate · 2,340 jobs · 25-1042$62,740–$132,780 middle 50% of IL wages+7.3% projected U.S. growth · 4,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Technicians$55,790 median wageIL estimate · 790 jobs · 19-4021$39,940–$70,060 middle 50% of IL wages+7.4% projected U.S. growth · 9,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNatural Sciences Managers$159,670 median wageIL estimate · 2,810 jobs · 11-9121$115,190–$208,440 middle 50% of IL wages+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeForensic Science Technicians$124,790 median wageIL estimate · 370 jobs · 19-4092$79,190–$129,590 middle 50% of IL wages+13.3% projected U.S. growth · 2,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBiological Scientists, All Other$82,640 median wageIL estimate · 1,300 jobs · 19-1029$64,010–$106,020 middle 50% of IL wages+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 4,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$82,330 median wageIL estimate · 4,700 jobs · 19-1042$65,570–$104,700 middle 50% of IL wages+12.6% projected U.S. growth · 10,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$79,990 median wageIL estimate · 44,670 jobs · 25-2031$62,330–$104,670 middle 50% of IL wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeLife Scientists, All Other$66,190 median wageIL estimate · 160 jobs · 19-1099$57,270–$70,690 middle 50% of IL wages+6.3% projected U.S. growth · 400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFood Science Technicians$60,820 median wageIL estimate · 290 jobs · 19-4013$50,730–$81,090 middle 50% of IL wages+4.8% projected U.S. growth · 3,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeAgricultural Technicians$46,410 median wageIL estimate · 700 jobs · 19-4012$39,960–$61,630 middle 50% of IL wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 2,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degree
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS

Where graduates work five years later

The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.

01

Health Care and Social Assistance

about 32.2%
02

Educational Services

about 12.1%
03

Manufacturing

about 11.5%
04

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

about 10.6%
05

Public Administration

about 7.5%

How to read this: This is an observed industry mix, not a list of job titles or proof that every graduate worked in the field studied. Counts and shares are approximate because Census privacy protections add statistical noise.

Coverage is limited to institutions and states participating in the Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes program. These figures do not affect DegreeVerdict ROI calculations.

Download the official Census source file →
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Springfield, IL

University of Illinois Springfield

$6,092 higher earnings · $1,884 less debt · $2,953 lower annual net price

Earnings
$59,817
Debt
$22,116
Annual net price
$9,833
View outcomes →
Chicago, IL

University of Illinois Chicago

$5,394 higher earnings · $6,000 less debt · $1,812 lower annual net price

Earnings
$59,119
Debt
$18,000
Annual net price
$10,974
View outcomes →
Evanston, IL

Northwestern University

$17,456 higher earnings · $9,200 less debt

Earnings
$71,181
Debt
$14,800
Annual net price
$29,167
View outcomes →
Decatur, IL

Millikin University

$11,109 higher earnings · $3,369 less debt

Earnings
$64,834
Debt
$20,631
Annual net price
$21,989
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

51 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

Calculate my payoff →