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2026 Best Value Zoology Schools in Illinois

[Zoology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/zoology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for zoology students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Zoology Schools in Illinois

2026 Best Value Zoology Schools in Illinois

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the zoology degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Zoology Schools

1

Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Carbondale, IL

$13,334 In-State Tuition & Fees

$21,717 Avg Student Debt

$53,390 Median Earnings (10yr)

Leading the list is Southern Illinois University Carbondale, our #1 best value for zoology in Illinois. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Zoology graduates carry a median of $21,717 in student loans. Soon after graduation, zoology degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $34,014. Set against $21,717 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.

2

Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, IL

$38,900 In-State Tuition & Fees

$26,797 Avg Student Debt

$53,213 Median Earnings (10yr)

Olivet Nazarene University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value zoology schools. Set in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,900. Students borrow a median of $26,797 to complete the zoology program here. Zoology graduates of Olivet Nazarene University earn a median of $48,505 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,797 median debt. Olivet Nazarene University admits about 56% of applicants.

View All Zoology 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 · 4 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.