2026 Best Biotechnology Schools in Illinois
Biotechnology programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their biotechnology programs.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best biotechnology schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Biotechnology in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall biotechnology education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Biotechnology
No school ranked higher than Rush University this year for biotechnology. Located in the city of Chicago, Rush University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Rush University awarded about 30 biotechnology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their biotechnology degree from Rush University earn around $81,296 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $31,206 to complete this degree.
Read more about the biotechnology program at Rush University
University Of Illinois At Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in biotechnology, ranking #2. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 23 biotechnology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the biotechnology program make about $61,829 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,115.
More information about a degree in biotechnology from University Of Illinois At Chicago
Students looking for a strong biotechnology program will find one at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 16 biotechnology degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Biotechnology graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete this degree.
See the full biotechnology program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Northwestern University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best biotechnology schools. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 38 biotechnology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their biotechnology degree from Northwestern University earn around $75,972 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
More information about a degree in biotechnology from Northwestern University
More Biotechnology Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 5 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
