2026 Best Value Biology Studies Schools in Illinois
[Biology Studies](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/general-biology/biology-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong biology studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 48 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value biology studies schools.
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2026 Best Value Biology Studies Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the biology studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Biology Studies Schools
Millikin University tops our 2026 list of the best value biology studies schools in Illinois. Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Decatur. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,792. Biology Studies graduates carry a median of $20,631 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biology studies degree recipients from Millikin University generally make around $58,852. Set against $20,631 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Springfield came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value biology studies schools. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,557, with out-of-state students paying around $20,139. Typical student debt for biology studies graduates is $22,116. Soon after graduation, biology studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Springfield generally make around $33,882. Set against $22,116 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Springfield admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Chicago is a great value for students pursuing a degree in biology studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete the biology studies program here. Soon after graduation, biology studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $28,768. That is a strong return on a $18,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in biology studies will find it at Northern Illinois University, which ranked #4. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Biology Studies graduates carry a median of $23,630 in student loans. Early-career biology studies graduates make about $42,339. That is a strong return on a $23,630 median debt. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Governors State University earned it the #5 place for biology studies. Governors State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,004. Biology Studies graduates carry a median of $31,250 in student loans. Biology Studies graduates of Governors State University earn a median of $43,641 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Governors State University admits about 48% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #6 among the best values for biology studies. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for biology studies graduates is $20,778. Early-career biology studies graduates make about $57,461. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Western Illinois University came in at #7 for value in biology studies this year. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,572. Students borrow a median of $27,585 to complete the biology studies program here. Soon after graduation, biology studies degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $40,936. Set against $27,585 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Xavier University placed #8 among the best values for biology studies. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,945 in tuition and fees. Biology Studies graduates carry a median of $26,939 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biology studies degree recipients from Saint Xavier University generally make around $37,977. That is a strong return on a $26,939 median debt. Saint Xavier University admits about 84% of applicants.
Northeastern Illinois University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value biology studies schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,383, while out-of-state students pay about $22,726. Typical student debt for biology studies graduates is $14,031. Soon after graduation, biology studies degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $40,392. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northeastern Illinois University admits about 75% of applicants.
Augustana College Illinois earned the #10 position for value in biology studies this year. Located in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $51,598. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the biology studies program here. Biology Studies graduates of Augustana College Illinois earn a median of $32,844 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Augustana College Illinois admits about 63% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #11 spot for biology studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,396 to complete the biology studies program here. Early-career biology studies graduates make about $47,191. That is a strong return on a $22,396 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Eastern Illinois University placed #12 among the best values for biology studies. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,377, compared with $15,859 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biology studies graduates is $24,000. Biology Studies graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $33,686 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Chicago State University came in at #13 for value in biology studies this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Chicago State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,754, with out-of-state students paying around $12,757. Students borrow a median of $39,223 to complete the biology studies program here. Biology Studies graduates of Chicago State University earn a median of $47,477 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Dominican University earned the #14 position for value in biology studies this year. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,828. Typical student debt for biology studies graduates is $25,117. Soon after graduation, biology studies degree recipients from Dominican University generally make around $26,015. Set against $25,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Dominican University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of St Francis came in at #15 for value in biology studies this year. Set in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,110 in tuition and fees. Biology Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career biology studies graduates make about $70,918. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #16 spot for biology studies value this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the biology studies program here. Soon after graduation, biology studies degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $28,206. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of Chicago landed the #17 spot for biology studies value this year. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Biology Studies graduates carry a median of $13,500 in student loans. Biology Studies graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $35,275 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,500 median debt. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Illinois College landed the #18 spot for biology studies value this year. Set in the town of Jacksonville, Illinois College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,676 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for biology studies graduates is $26,533. Soon after graduation, biology studies degree recipients from Illinois College generally make around $31,438. That is a strong return on a $26,533 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Lewis University placed #19 among the best values for biology studies. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,200 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for biology studies graduates is $26,499. Early-career biology studies graduates make about $35,948. That is a strong return on a $26,499 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Quincy University earned the #20 position for value in biology studies this year. Located in the town of Quincy, Quincy University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $37,140. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the biology studies program here. Early-career biology studies graduates make about $46,414. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Quincy University admits about 51% of applicants.
North Park University came in at #21 for value in biology studies this year. North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,710. Typical student debt for biology studies graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, biology studies degree recipients from North Park University generally make around $33,592. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Park University admits about 68% of applicants.
Illinois Institute Of Technology landed the #22 spot for biology studies value this year. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,202. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete the biology studies program here. Early-career biology studies graduates make about $71,315. That is a strong return on a $26,774 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Illinois State University landed the #23 spot for biology studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Students borrow a median of $24,672 to complete the biology studies program here. Biology Studies graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $36,337 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,672 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Aurora University earned the #24 position for value in biology studies this year. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. In-state tuition and fees average $29,170. Students borrow a median of $24,163 to complete the biology studies program here. Soon after graduation, biology studies degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $32,691. Set against $24,163 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Roosevelt University earned the #25 position for value in biology studies this year. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,315. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the biology studies program here. Biology Studies graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of $30,730 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 41 Best Value Biology Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in biology studies:
More Biology Studies Rankings
View All Biology Studies Rankings >
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 · 48 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 35 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.
