Biology at Augustana College

Augustana's Biology graduates start modestly at $32,844 but see their earnings jump 57% to $51,641 by year four—one of the steeper growth curves you'll find among Illinois biology programs. While the initial salary sits right at the state median, that four-year mark suggests graduates are successfully landing positions in healthcare, research, or graduate-level fields where biology degrees pay off.

The $27,000 debt load is remarkably low, ranking in just the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of biology programs leave students with more debt. That 0.82 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable even during that modest first year, and becomes even more comfortable as earnings climb. Among the 50 biology programs in Illinois, Augustana ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings, which means it's performing better than most state schools despite higher-earning outliers like Governors State ($43,641 starting).

The tradeoff here is clear: you're accepting a slower launch in exchange for controlled debt and strong mid-term growth. If your child is headed to medical, dental, or graduate school—common paths for biology majors—that low debt becomes especially valuable. For students planning to work immediately after graduation, the initial salary gap compared to top Illinois programs matters more.