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Best Value Biology Colleges in Illinois

Ranked by best return on investment (earnings vs. cost). See our methodology.

Millikin University breaks the expected price pattern among Illinois biology programs, offering the lowest net cost at $8,837 despite being a private institution. This unusual positioning puts it below public options like University of Illinois Springfield ($8,916) and creates significant savings compared to other private schools that can reach $17,945 at Illinois College. The earnings spread tells an equally compelling story, with Governors State University graduates earning $40,281 annually while Dominican University graduates start at $25,194. Illinois biology graduates enter a state economy where healthcare systems like Northwestern Medicine and Abbott Laboratories create strong demand for life science professionals. The state's MAP Grant program helps bridge affordability gaps, particularly important given that net costs range from under $9,000 to over $18,000. Public universities dominate the lower cost tiers, with six of the top eight most affordable options coming from state institutions. However, graduation rates vary dramatically, from Northeastern Illinois University's 16.8% to Augustana College's 79.2%, making the cost-outcome equation more complex than sticker price alone.
48
Programs
$8,837 – $35,196
Net Price Range
$28,773
Avg. Program Earnings
58.2%
Avg. Graduation Rate

48 Biology, General Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price Program Earnings In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $9,477 $40,281 $11,320 19.6% 57.5%
2 $8,837 $32,925 $26,892 59.1% 75.4%
3 $8,916 $28,960 $12,252 61.4% 82.0%
4 $11,592 $32,772 $14,952 44.8% 75.0%
5 $12,909 $33,459 $12,700 49.6% 70.7%
6 $12,093 $29,685 $36,840 59.0% 84.1%
7 $13,550 $32,658 $12,383 16.8% 62.7%
8 $12,313 $28,362 $14,338 60.3% 78.7%
9 $13,696 $30,499 $12,922 55.0% 97.5%
10 $14,093 $29,413 $13,403 45.2% 68.0%
11 $12,437 $25,774 $49,834 79.2% 61.2%
12 $17,324 $33,993 $35,740 42.7% 61.7%
13 $18,996 $32,658 $16,021 66.3% 86.2%
14 $17,945 $30,047 $37,470 61.1% 77.2%
15 $15,113 $25,194 $37,844 62.4% 89.5%
16 $16,284 $26,739 $37,000 64.6% 58.4%
17 $24,190 $38,289 $34,070 59.5% 68.4%
18 $21,814 $33,993 $26,758 52.4% 64.4%
19 $18,992 $28,381 $28,220 58.3% 81.9%
20 $23,066 $33,993 $37,300 38.3% 54.9%
21 $20,152 $29,685 $20,280 41.0% 88.3%
22 $16,177 $23,649 $13,244 56.3% 91.5%
23 $18,191 $24,421 $35,325 56.0% 68.0%
24 $21,063 $28,236 $41,628 65.2% 76.0%
25 $18,967 $23,649 $66,939 94.9% 5.4%
26 $26,984 $32,563 $43,930 86.6% 88.4%
27 $27,499 $29,832 $54,202 70.4% 59.7%
28 $23,033 $24,808 $44,394 71.1% 60.9%
29 $29,141 $31,236 $44,460 70.0% 70.2%
30 $21,539 $21,052 $37,940 60.3% 57.8%
31 $29,550 $26,739 $55,704 82.5% 42.2%
32 $24,875 $21,964 $55,587 67.5% 73.3%
33 $27,143 $21,383 $65,997 95.9% 7.2%
34 $35,196 $23,930 $51,716 76.9% 79.2%
35 $23,529 $15,817 $34,290 51.0% 93.1%
36 $15,201 $16,004 84.9% 44.8%
37 $23,572 $39,680 72.1% 75.1%
38 $10,133 $12,754 16.9% 48.5%
39 $21,386 $12,320 45.7% 91.3%
40 $16,381 $20,325 63.9% 70.7%
41 $16,774 $36,258 47.4% 93.0%
42 $21,055 $26,100 23.0%
43 $22,048 $28,400 40.6% 86.7%
44 $21,270 $30,598 51.4% 94.1%
45 $19,353 $51,763 72.4% 61.4%
46 $25,027 $30,910 53.3% 58.2%
47 $18,034 $43,520 60.1% 90.7%
48 $18,370 $37,882 62.6% 74.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Millikin University's biology program such an unusual value proposition?

Millikin University charges the lowest net cost at $8,837 among all Illinois biology programs, despite being a private nonprofit institution. This places it below public universities like University of Illinois Springfield ($8,916) and Northern Illinois University ($12,909). Graduates earn a solid $32,925 annually, placing the program in the middle tier for post-graduation income while maintaining the lowest attendance costs.

How do graduation rates affect the value equation for Illinois biology programs?

Graduation rates span from 16.8% at Northeastern Illinois University to 79.2% at Augustana College, creating vastly different completion scenarios. University of Illinois Springfield offers both reasonable costs ($8,916 net) and strong completion rates (61.4%). Students at Governors State University face a 19.6% graduation rate but command the highest starting salaries at $40,281 for those who finish.

Does attending a public versus private biology program in Illinois affect career earnings?

Public university graduates show the widest earnings range, from $28,362 at University of Illinois Chicago to $40,281 at Governors State University. Private institutions cluster more tightly around $25,000-$34,000 annually. The highest-earning graduates come from public Governors State University, while the lowest earnings belong to private Dominican University at $25,194.

What debt levels can biology students expect at different Illinois institutions?

Student debt ranges from $13,075 at Northeastern Illinois University to $27,000 at several institutions including Western Illinois University and Augustana College. Most public universities keep debt below $23,000, while private schools often push closer to $27,000. University of Illinois Chicago offers a middle ground with $16,031 in typical debt and reasonable net costs.

Where do acceptance rates create the most competitive admission environments?

Governors State University maintains the most selective admissions at 57.48%, followed closely by Augustana College at 61.22%. Most Illinois biology programs accept between 70-90% of applicants, with Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville reaching 97.51%. The correlation between selectivity and outcomes varies significantly, as highly selective Governors State produces top earners while accessible programs like Illinois State University achieve solid 66.3% graduation rates.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.