Biology at Northeastern Illinois University

Northeastern Illinois University's biology program punches well above its weight. Graduates earn $40,392 within a year—outperforming 95% of biology programs nationwide and sitting comfortably above Illinois's state median of $32,844. The program trails only Governors State among Illinois public universities in this field, a remarkable position for a school with a 70% admission rate that serves a predominantly Pell-eligible student body.

The financial picture looks even better when you factor in the debt. At $14,031, graduates carry roughly half the typical biology student's burden (national median: $25,000), yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35—easily manageable on a starting salary above $40,000. By year four, earnings climb to $52,784, a 31% increase that suggests graduates are finding solid career traction. While the program ranks at the 60th percentile statewide, that's actually impressive context: Illinois biology programs generally perform well, and NEIU competes effectively in a strong field.

For families concerned about college ROI, this represents exactly the kind of opportunity worth investigating. Your child gets strong employment outcomes and minimal debt at a fraction of what they'd pay at many private universities producing similar results. The 54% Pell grant rate indicates NEIU knows how to serve first-generation and lower-income students effectively—often a good sign of institutional support systems that help students actually finish and launch careers.