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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Biology Studies in Illinois

38 Ranked Colleges
2,447 Degrees Awarded
$17,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor's in Illinois

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Biology Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 6th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 91,804 degrees were awarded to students with this major.

Across Illinois, there were 2,622 biology studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,447 biology studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,319 and $24,183 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois” ranking analyzed 38 colleges that offered a degree in biology studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent biology studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the biology studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois bachelor’s degree biological sciences students.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Biology Studies in Illinois

#1

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

Out of the 38 schools in the Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Illinois State University is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 117 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree biological sciences students list, Illinois State has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $20,895 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students per year to attend Illinois State University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Biology Studies at Illinois State

#17 in overall quality

Out of the 38 schools in the Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #2 spot on the list. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s biological sciences degrees to 134 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUE, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SIUE is $14,423 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students.

Read full report on Biology Studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

#18 in overall quality

Out of the 38 schools in the Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Springfield, Illinois, this small public school handed out 27 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s biological sciences students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree biological sciences students list, UIS has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Springfield is $12,477 for illinois bachelor’s degree biological sciences students.

Read full report on Biology Studies at University of Illinois at Springfield

#4

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 38 schools in the Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Northern Illinois University landed the #4 spot on the list. Northern Illinois University is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 116 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NIU, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northern Illinois University is $18,259 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students.

Read more about Biology Studies at NIU

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Chicago. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 409 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for UIC is $13,312 for illinois bachelor’s degree biological sciences students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Biology Studies at University of Illinois at Chicago

#6

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#19 in overall quality

Western Illinois University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. Western Illinois University is located in Macomb, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 78 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees to qualified students.

WIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for WIU is $16,210 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students.

Read full report on Biology Studies at WIU

#7

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Charleston, Illinois, and it awarded 60 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Illinois University is $14,607 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students.

Full Eastern Illinois University Biology Studies Report

With a ranking of #8, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. Northeastern Illinois University is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 87 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Northeastern Illinois University is $15,843 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students.

Read full report on Biology Studies at Northeastern Illinois University

#9

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois

Governors State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. GSU is a public institution located in University Park, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Governors State University is $12,077 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students.

Read full report on Biology Studies at GSU

Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois ranking, coming in at #10. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 49 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $16,945 for illinois bachelor’s degree biological sciences students per year to attend SIUC.

Full SIUC Biology Studies Report

#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 2 degrees to qualified bachelors’s biological sciences students in 2019-2020.

UIUC also took the #21 spot in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $15,880 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Biology Studies at UIUC

#12

Chicago State University

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small public school handed out 19 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s biological sciences students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for CSU is $11,733 for illinois bachelor’s degree biological sciences students.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Biology Studies at CSU

#13

Aurora University

Aurora, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Aurora University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. Aurora University is a medium-sized school located in Aurora, Illinois that handed out 21 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Aurora, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Aurora University is $17,215 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Biology Studies at Aurora University

#14

Blackburn College

Carlinville, Illinois

Blackburn College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. Blackburn College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Carlinville, Illinois. It awarded 10 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Blackburn College is $15,993 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students.

Read full report on Biology Studies at Blackburn

#15

Eureka College

Eureka, Illinois

Eureka College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. Eureka College is located in Eureka, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Eureka College is $21,344 for illinois bachelor’s degree biological sciences students.

Read more about Biology Studies at Eureka College

#16

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

University of St Francis ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. Located in Joliet, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 10 degrees to qualified bachelors’s biological sciences students in 2019-2020.

University of Saint Francis also made our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $17,538 for illinois bachelor’s degree biological sciences students per year to attend University of St Francis.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of St Francis Biology Studies Report

#17

Illinois College

Jacksonville, Illinois
#24 in overall quality

Illinois College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois ranking, coming in at #17. Illinois College is located in Jacksonville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees to qualified students.

Illinois College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Illinois College is $16,562 for illinois bachelor’s degree biological sciences students.

Read full report on Biology Studies at Illinois College

#18

North Park University

Chicago, Illinois

North Park University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois ranking. North Park is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 31 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for North Park University is $19,170 for illinois bachelor’s degree biological sciences students.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Biology Studies at North Park University

#19

Quincy University

Quincy, Illinois

Quincy University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. Located in Quincy, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 25 degrees to qualified bachelors’s biological sciences students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $17,497 for illinois bachelor’s degree biological sciences students per year to attend Quincy University.

Read full report on Biology Studies at Quincy U

#20

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, Saint Xavier University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 39 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

SXU also took the #20 spot in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $14,528 for illinois bachelor’s degree biological sciences students per year to attend SXU.

Read more about Biology Studies at Saint Xavier University

#21

Wheaton College Illinois

Wheaton, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

Wheaton College Illinois came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois ranking. Wheaton College Illinois is a small school located in Wheaton, Illinois that handed out 19 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Wheaton College Illinois not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Wheaton College Illinois is $25,358 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Read full report on Biology Studies at Wheaton College Illinois

#22

Dominican University

River Forest, Illinois
#23 in overall quality

Dominican University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois ranking. This small school is located in River Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Dominican U, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Dominican U is $19,268 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Dominican University Biology Studies Report

#23

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, Elmhurst University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. This small school is located in Elmhurst, Illinois, and it awarded 32 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree biological sciences students list, Elmhurst has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $21,485 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students per year to attend Elmhurst University.

The low student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Elmhurst University Biology Studies Report

#24

McKendree University

Lebanon, Illinois

McKendree University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois ranking, coming in at #24. McKendree is a small school located in Lebanon, Illinois that handed out 23 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend McKendree University is $19,844 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students.

Read more about Biology Studies at McKendree University

#25

Benedictine University

Lisle, Illinois

Benedictine University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. Benedictine U is located in Lisle, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 53 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Benedictine U is $25,143 for illinois bachelor’s degree biological sciences students.

Read more about Biology Studies at Benedictine U

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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