by our College Data Analytics Team
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2020-2021, 107,165 general biology students received their degree, making the major the 5th most popular in the country. In 2019-2020, general biology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $28,334 and had an average of $23,818 in loans still to pay off.
Across Illinois, there were 2,868 general biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,289 and $25,427 respectively.
For this year’s “Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois” ranking, we looked at 52 colleges that offer a degree in general biology. To top this list, a school must have a successful general biology program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois biology students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school handed out 466 diplomas to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Loyola University Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s biology degrees to 380 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 General Biology at Loyola University Chicago
Out of the 52 schools in the Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #3 spot on the list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 162 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville General Biology Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Illinois State University. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois. Illinois State is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 143 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 134 degrees to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.
Northwestern University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #6. Northwestern University is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 127 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Roosevelt University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s biology degrees to 103 students in 2020-2021.
Midwestern University - Downers Grove landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois ranking. Midwestern University - Downers Grove is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Downers Grove, Illinois. It awarded 103 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Midwestern University - Downers Grove General Biology Report
With a ranking of #9, Augustana College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois list. Located in Rock Island, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 91 degrees to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Northern Illinois University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois ranking. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 90 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #10. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s biology degrees to 90 students in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #12, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois list. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 80 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about General Biology at Northeastern Illinois University
With a ranking of #13, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois list. Western Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 73 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
Saint Xavier University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois ranking. SXU is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 62 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois ranking. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 58 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
DePaul University ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois list. DePaul is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 58 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #17, Lewis University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois list. Lewis University is a medium-sized school located in Romeoville, Illinois that handed out 48 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Benedictine University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #18. Benedictine University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lisle, Illinois. It awarded 39 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Bradley University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #19. Bradley University is located in Peoria, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 36 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #20, Illinois Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois list. Illinois Tech is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 33 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.
The undergraduate 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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Wheaton College Illinois came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois ranking. This small school is located in Wheaton, Illinois, and it awarded 33 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Knox College landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois ranking. Knox is a small school located in Galesburg, Illinois that handed out 32 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Illinois Wesleyan University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #22. Illinois Wesleyan is located in Bloomington, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
North Park University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois ranking. North Park University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Elmhurst University ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended Biology Major in Illinois list. Elmhurst, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s biology degrees to 26 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies