Biology at Knox College

Knox College biology graduates face a challenging immediate post-graduation period, earning $31,203 in their first year—below both the Illinois median ($32,844) and the national average for biology majors. More concerning, this places the program in just the 40th percentile among Illinois biology programs, meaning six out of ten comparable state programs produce better initial outcomes. The earnings lag behind public universities like Northern Illinois and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville by roughly $7,000 annually, a significant gap given Knox's private college tuition structure.

The silver lining is manageable debt. At $27,000, Knox biology graduates carry slightly more than the state median but still maintain a debt-to-earnings ratio under 1.0—meaning they owe less than one year's salary. Earnings do climb to $38,488 by year four, representing solid 23% growth, though this still leaves graduates trailing stronger Illinois programs. The moderate sample size suggests these numbers reflect a consistent pattern rather than an outlier year.

For families considering Knox's biology program, the practical question is whether the liberal arts environment justifies the earnings disadvantage compared to Illinois public universities. If your child is targeting medical school or graduate programs where undergraduate prestige matters, Knox's smaller class sizes might offer value. But if they're planning to work after graduation, those Illinois public options deliver better immediate financial returns with comparable or lower debt.