Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences at Illinois State University

With only three Illinois schools offering this cellular biology program, Illinois State positions solidly in the middle—ranking in the 60th percentile statewide with $34,154 first-year earnings. That beats the state median by about $2,200, though it trails the national benchmark slightly. The manageable $22,500 debt load (below both state and national averages) yields a favorable 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates carry less than eight months of salary in student loans.

The caveat matters here: with fewer than 30 graduates in this cohort, these figures could shift substantially with a slightly different sample. That said, the fundamentals look reasonable for students planning graduate school—which many cellular biology majors do. The relatively accessible admission rate and moderate debt suggest Illinois State won't saddle students with crushing loans before medical school, PhD programs, or other advanced degrees. Interestingly, even top-ranked University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign shows lower first-year earnings for this program ($29,777), likely reflecting the pre-professional nature of the degree.

For families prioritizing affordable preparation for graduate study over immediate earnings, this program works. Just recognize that cellular biology bachelor's degrees rarely lead directly to high-paying careers—the value comes from what students do next, and graduating with reasonable debt keeps those doors open.