2026 Best Value Biology Education Schools in Illinois
[Biology Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/biology-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong biology education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for biology education students.
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2026 Best Value Biology Education Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in biology education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Biology Education Schools
Our analysis ranked Millikin University the best value for a degree in biology education in Illinois. Set in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $26,792 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for biology education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, biology education degree recipients from Millikin University generally make around $43,936. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Millikin University admits about 67% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saint Xavier University earned it the #2 place for biology education. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,945. Typical student debt for biology education graduates is $27,194. Biology Education graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $46,835 early in their careers. Set against $27,194 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Students looking for strong value in biology education will find it at Augustana College Illinois, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,598. Typical student debt for biology education graduates is $27,000. Early-career biology education graduates make about $45,145. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
A rank of #4 makes Northern Illinois University one of the best values for biology education. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Students borrow a median of $26,746 to complete the biology education program here. Early-career biology education graduates make about $52,308. Set against $26,746 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value biology education schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Biology Education graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Biology Education graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $51,105 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #6 position for value in biology education this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Typical student debt for biology education graduates is $21,182. Soon after graduation, biology education degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $51,816. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Trinity Christian College landed the #7 spot for biology education value this year. Set in the suburb of Palos Heights, Trinity Christian College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,605. Typical student debt for biology education graduates is $27,000. Biology Education graduates of Trinity Christian College earn a median of $44,538 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Concordia University Chicago earned the #8 position for value in biology education this year. Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,488. Typical student debt for biology education graduates is $27,000. Biology Education graduates of Concordia University Chicago earn a median of $51,796 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Concordia University Chicago admits about 93% of applicants.
Illinois State University earned the #9 position for value in biology education this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Students borrow a median of $24,149 to complete the biology education program here. Soon after graduation, biology education degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $50,102. Set against $24,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Elmhurst College came in at #10 for value in biology education this year. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $42,955. Typical student debt for biology education graduates is $27,000. Biology Education graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of $51,232 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Bradley University landed the #11 spot for biology education value this year. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,160. Biology Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biology education degree recipients from Bradley University generally make around $42,917. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Bradley University admits about 77% of applicants.
Depaul University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value biology education schools. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Biology Education graduates carry a median of $26,910 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biology education degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $55,226. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
- 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.
