Compare 40 Biology, General. programs in Illinois. Average earnings: $47,573.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Biology, General. tells a different story. Across 40 programs, earnings range from $49,849 to $74,054—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
Bradley University's Biology program leads with graduates earning $74,054, well above the $47,573 state average. Northwestern follows at $69,257, while Benedictine University rounds out the top three at $58,750—proving that program outcomes vary independently of institutional prestige.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Bradley UniversityPrivate | $74,054 | 25 | $27,000 | Excellent | $41,405 | Challenging |
| #2 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $69,257 | 91 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Manageable |
| #3 | Benedictine UniversityPrivate | $58,750 | 53 | $22,500 | Good | $22,900 | Challenging |
| #4 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | $56,990 | 51 | $23,168 | Good | $41,563 | High |
| #5 | University Of St FrancisPrivate | $56,478 | 10 | $21,079 | Good | $24,148 | Challenging |
| #6 | Millikin UniversityPrivate | $56,407 | 18 | $27,000 | Good | $25,486 | Challenging |
| #7 | North Central CollegePrivate | $55,542 | 15 | $24,500 | Good | $30,000 | Challenging |
| #8 | Aurora UniversityPrivate | $55,327 | 21 | $20,318 | Good | $19,500 | Manageable |
| #9 | $54,609 | 60 | $21,500 | Good | $17,781 | Manageable | |
| #10 | Loyola University ChicagoPrivate | $54,098 | 312 | $24,157 | Good | $54,045 | High |
| #11 | $52,784 | 87 | $14,600 | Excellent | $13,578 | Manageable | |
| #12 | Roosevelt UniversityPrivate | $52,173 | 51 | $22,000 | Good | $27,213 | Challenging |
| #13 | $52,151 | 409 | $16,704 | Excellent | $24,323 | Challenging | |
| #14 | University Of ChicagoPrivate | $52,065 | 147 | $15,000 | Excellent | $33,297 | Challenging |
| #15 | Augustana CollegePrivate | $51,641 | 99 | $27,000 | Manageable | $37,219 | High |
| #16 | Lake Forest CollegePrivate | $51,029 | 24 | $26,158 | Manageable | $35,000 | High |
| #17 | Illinois Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | $50,405 | 26 | $27,000 | Manageable | $47,679 | High |
| #18 | $50,151 | 134 | $20,500 | Good | $21,500 | Challenging | |
| #19 | Illinois CollegePrivate | $49,986 | 23 | $25,565 | Manageable | $22,975 | High |
| #20 | $49,849 | 49 | $21,543 | Good | $19,500 | Challenging | |
| #21 | $48,863 | 117 | $20,482 | Good | $28,767 | High | |
| #22 | $48,556 | 116 | $22,162 | Good | $19,508 | Challenging | |
| #23 | Dominican UniversityPrivate | $48,438 | 23 | $24,411 | Manageable | $19,865 | High |
| #24 | $47,378 | 118 | $19,500 | Good | $34,511 | High | |
| #25 | Saint Xavier UniversityPrivate | $46,068 | 39 | $22,223 | Manageable | $20,742 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
