Biology at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's biology program starts rough but rebounds significantly. That $28,206 first-year salary ranks in just the 25th percentile nationally and sits well below both Illinois's state median ($32,844) and the national median ($32,316). Within Illinois, this program performs in the 40th percentile—meaning six in ten biology programs in the state produce better immediate outcomes. For comparison, SIUC's sister campus in Edwardsville delivers starting salaries nearly $10,000 higher.

The positive surprise is earnings growth: graduates see a 77% jump to nearly $50,000 by year four, suggesting many eventually find their footing in research positions, lab work, or graduate programs. The $27,000 debt load is reasonable and sits in the 5th percentile nationally (meaning 95% of programs have higher debt). With first-year earnings almost covering the debt, financial distress isn't the primary concern here.

The real question is whether your student can weather that difficult first year. Many biology graduates take time to establish careers, but starting $4,600 below the state median means tighter budgets during a critical transition period. If your child needs stronger immediate earnings—whether to support themselves or begin loan repayment—other Illinois public universities show measurably better placement. If they're committed to SIUC for other reasons and can manage lean early years, the trajectory improves substantially.