Best colleges for Biology in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Northern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Saint Xavier University are the top bachelor's Biology programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Northern Illinois University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,137, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Chicago, Loyola University Chicago and University of Chicago award the most Biology degrees in Illinois: 389, 289 and 185 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 50 Illinois colleges offer Biology and award 2,569 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Biology program, also known as Biology, General, is designed for students interested in the scientific study of life and living organisms. This broad natural science encompasses various fields, focusing on the structure, function,…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,137 | 81 | 49% | — | $23,630 |
| 2 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,067 | 113 | 57% | — | $22,396 |
| 3 | Saint Xavier University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,977 | 61 | 57% | $12,935 | $26,939 |
| 4 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,337 | 102 | 65% | — | $24,672 |
| 5 | Lewis University Romeoville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,948 | 35 | 67% | $17,632 | $26,499 |
| 6 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,275 | 185 | 96% | $13,333 | $13,500 |
| 7 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,052 | 48 | 45% | — | $27,585 |
| 8 | University of Illinois Springfield Springfield Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,882 | 25 | 53% | — | $22,116 |
| 9 | North Park University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,592 | 27 | 58% | $18,494 | $27,000 |
| 10 | Lake Forest College Lake Forest Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,380 | 35 | 78% | $25,052 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Biology degrees in Illinois
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 389 | $28,768 |
| 2 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 289 | $31,964 |
| 3 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 185 | $35,275 |
| 4 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 152 | Not reported |
| 5 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public | 113 | $38,067 |
| 6 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 102 | $36,337 |
| 7 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public | 97 | $31,278 |
| 8 | Roosevelt University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 88 | $27,462 |
| 9 | Augustana College Rock Island Private not-for-profit | 84 | $32,844 |
| 10 | Benedictine University Lisle Private not-for-profit | 82 | $29,215 |
ShowHide the other 40 Illinois colleges offering Biology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Illinois University | Dekalb | Public | 81 |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 61 |
| DePaul University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 58 |
| Midwestern University - Downers Grove (Graduate only) | Downers Grove | Private not-for-profit | 51 |
| Southern Illinois University - Carbondale | Carbondale | Public | 50 |
| Western Illinois University | Macomb | Public | 48 |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | Public | 44 |
| Bradley University | Peoria | Private not-for-profit | 35 |
| Lake Forest College | Lake Forest | Private not-for-profit | 35 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville | Private not-for-profit | 35 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 34 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington | Private not-for-profit | 31 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | Private not-for-profit | 30 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Champaign | Public | 28 |
| North Park University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 27 |
| Aurora University | Aurora | Private not-for-profit | 25 |
| University of Illinois Springfield | Springfield | Public | 25 |
| North Central College | Naperville | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Chicago State University | Chicago | Public | 23 |
| Knox College | Galesburg | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
| Millikin University | Decatur | Private not-for-profit | 20 |
| Governors State University | University Park | Public | 19 |
| Dominican University | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Greenville University | Greenville | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| East-West University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| University of St Francis | Joliet | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Trinity Christian College | Palos Heights | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Quincy University | Quincy | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| National University of Health Sciences | Lombard | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| McKendree University | Lebanon | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Concordia University - Chicago | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Illinois College | Jacksonville | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Rockford University | Rockford | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Eureka College | Eureka | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Judson University | Elgin | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Blackburn College | Carlinville | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Monmouth College | Monmouth | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Trinity International University - Illinois | Deerfield | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Biological Technicians (SOC 19-4021).
Top skills
What Biological Technicians earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Biology programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Biology degrees?+
University of Illinois Chicago (389 graduates a year), Loyola University Chicago (289 graduates a year) and University of Chicago (185 graduates a year) award the most Biology degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 50 Illinois colleges offer Biology.
What is the best college for Biology in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, Northern Illinois University leads among bachelor's Biology programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,137, College Scorecard. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Saint Xavier University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Illinois Chicago is the largest, with 389 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Biology program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Northern Illinois University tops the list at $38,137. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Biological Technicians earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Biological Technicians in Illinois is $56,790 (median $55,790), across about 790 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Biology program?+
The Biology program, also known as Biology, General, is designed for students interested in the scientific study of life and living organisms. This broad natural science encompasses various fields, focusing on the structure, function,…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, science, active listening, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Biological Technicians?+
The national job outlook is about +3.5% growth with around 9,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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