Bachelor's0% vs national median1,399 grads tracked
Biology, General at Northern Illinois University
Ranked 159th of 398 bachelor's programs in Biology, General by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$35,918
middle 50%: $24,926 – $47,743
Median · 5 years out
$60,870
middle 50%: $44,037 – $80,983
Median · 10 years out
$79,970
middle 50%: $58,773 – $115,493
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Biology, General (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Biology graduates from Northern Illinois University earn a median of $36k in their first year. Mid-career earnings reach approximately $61k, while 10-year median salaries hit $80k.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
7.2 yrs
≈ $8,624 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Houston - Victoria
$61,121 · 5 yrs out
West Texas A&M University
$61,045 · 5 yrs out
University of Louisiana at Monroe
$61,036 · 5 yrs out
Sam Houston State University
$61,008 · 5 yrs out
University of North Texas
$60,999 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State University, Mankato
$60,919 · 5 yrs out
Wabash College
$60,837 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Harrisburg
$60,837 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Denver
$60,798 · 5 yrs out
Texas State University
$60,701 · 5 yrs out
Eastern Illinois University
$60,696 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Columbia
$60,643 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Northern Illinois University
Education (Doctorate)
$119,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,599 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$111,551 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$111,291 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$109,443 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$102,156 · 5 yrs out
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,392 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$97,297 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,041 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$93,400 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$92,787 · 5 yrs out
Related fields of study
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
Compare universities
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Compare universities
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
Compare universities
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology
Compare universities
Biotechnology
Compare universities
Botany/Plant Biology
Compare universities