Biology at Roosevelt University

Roosevelt University's biology program stands out for explosive earnings growth—graduates nearly double their income from $27,462 to $52,173 between years one and four. That 90% jump suggests many alumni pursue additional training or certification that significantly boosts their marketability, though it also means weathering a financially tight first year out of college.

The program ranks in the bottom quartile among both Illinois biology programs (25th percentile) and nationally (22nd percentile) for initial earnings. In a state where top biology programs like Governors State and Northeastern Illinois start graduates at $40,000+, Roosevelt's first-year outcomes lag considerably. The $26,000 debt load is manageable in absolute terms, but paired with that $27,462 starting salary, it creates a debt-to-earnings ratio just under 1.0—meaning graduates owe roughly their entire first year's income.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether your student plans to immediately pursue graduate school, medical school, or professional certification. If so, that strong four-year earnings figure suggests Roosevelt provides adequate preparation despite the rocky start. But students planning to work immediately after their bachelor's should recognize they'll face tougher financial conditions than peers at other Illinois universities. The moderate sample size gives reasonable confidence in these patterns, and the admission profile (94% acceptance rate, many Pell recipients) indicates this serves students who may have fewer college options—making that eventual earnings recovery particularly important.