Best colleges for Ecology in Illinois
Ranked by graduates a year
Benedictine University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Loyola University Chicago award the most Ecology degrees and certificates in Illinois: 33, 21 and 16 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 12 Illinois colleges offer Ecology and award 108 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Ecology program, formally known as Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, is a comprehensive study within the Biological and Biomedical Sciences field. This program is designed for students interested in understanding…
12 institutions offering Ecology in Illinois
Graduate earnings are not yet reported for these institutions; ordered by graduates a year.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benedictine University Lisle Private not-for-profit | — | 33 | 50% | $23,570 | — |
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | — | 21 | 85% | — | — |
| 3 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | — | 16 | 73% | $33,454 | — |
| 4 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | — | 9 | 96% | $13,333 | — |
| 5 | Principia College Elsah Private not-for-profit | — | 9 | 74% | — | — |
| 6 | Greenville University Greenville Private not-for-profit | — | 5 | 40% | $20,472 | — |
| 7 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | — | 4 | 62% | — | — |
| 8 | Blackburn College Carlinville Private not-for-profit | — | 3 | 57% | $21,088 | — |
| 9 | Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science North Chicago Private not-for-profit Graduate only | — | 3 | — | — | — |
| 10 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | — | 2 | 95% | $14,799 | — |
| 11 | Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais Private not-for-profit | — | 2 | 61% | $20,903 | — |
| 12 | Wheaton College Wheaton Private not-for-profit | — | 1 | 85% | $23,461 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Ecology degrees in Illinois
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). 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 | Benedictine University Lisle Private not-for-profit | 33 | Not reported |
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 21 | Not reported |
| 3 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 16 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
| 5 | Principia College Elsah Private not-for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
| 6 | Greenville University Greenville Private not-for-profit | 5 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 4 | Not reported |
| 8 | Blackburn College Carlinville Private not-for-profit | 3 | Not reported |
| 9 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
| 10 | Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 2 Illinois colleges offering Ecology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (Graduate only) | North Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton | 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 Ecology programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Ecology degrees?+
Benedictine University (33 graduates a year), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (21 graduates a year) and Loyola University Chicago (16 graduates a year) award the most Ecology degrees and certificates in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 12 Illinois colleges offer Ecology.
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 Ecology program?+
The Ecology program, formally known as Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, is a comprehensive study within the Biological and Biomedical Sciences field. This program is designed for students interested in understanding…
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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