2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for General Biology in Illinois
18
Ranked Colleges
325
Degrees Awarded
$28,963
Avg Salary
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois” ranking is part of that endeavor.
General Biology is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 5th of all the majors we analyze. In 2021-2022, 106,032 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In , general biology graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $28,339 and had an average of $23,597 in loans still to pay off.
Across Illinois, there were 2,773 general biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,289 and $25,465 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 325 general biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $59,827 and $47,424 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois” ranking, we looked at 18 colleges that offer a degree in general biology. That schools that top this list have a program in general biology in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank General Biology Schools
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois
The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois master’s degree biology students.
Top 18 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for General Biology in Illinois
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Midwestern University - Downers Grove. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois. Located in Downers Grove, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 90 degrees to qualified masters’s biology students in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full Midwestern University - Downers Grove General Biology Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Roosevelt University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s biology degrees to 44 students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Roosevelt General Biology Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Eastern Illinois University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois. Eastern Illinois University is a medium-sized public school situated in Charleston, Illinois. It awarded 21 masters’s biology degrees in 2021-2022.
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%.
Read full report on General Biology at EIU
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Loyola University Chicago. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois list. Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 67 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.
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 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about General Biology at Loyola Chicago
Out of the 18 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois Institute of Technology landed the #5 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 19 masters’s biology degrees in 2021-2022.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Illinois Institute of Technology General Biology Report
Western Illinois University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois ranking. WIU is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 WIU
Northeastern Illinois University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 7 masters’s biology degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 General Biology at Northeastern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #8. SIUE is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 20 masters’s biology degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full SIUE General Biology Report
Illinois State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school handed out 11 degrees to qualified masters’s biology students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Biology at Illinois State
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.
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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Biology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Chicago State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois ranking. Chicago State University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1 masters’s biology degrees to qualified students.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%.
Read full report on General Biology at Chicago State University
Northern Illinois University ranked #12 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois list. Northern Illinois University is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 6 masters’s biology degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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 Northern Illinois University General Biology Report
DePaul University ranked #13 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 5 masters’s biology degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Biology at DePaul
University of Chicago ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s biology degrees to 8 students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 99%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full UChicago General Biology Report
University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois list. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3 masters’s biology degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 full report on General Biology at UIC
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #16 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois list. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified masters’s biology students in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Biology at UIUC
Northwestern University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois ranking. Northwestern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.1% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 99%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Northwestern University General Biology Report
With a ranking of #18, Bradley University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Biology Major in Illinois list. Located in Peoria, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified masters’s biology students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on General Biology at Bradley University
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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
- *Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate 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.
