Bachelor's-13% vs national median939 grads tracked
Biology, General at Western Illinois University
Ranked 318th of 398 bachelor's programs in Biology, General by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$32,658
middle 50%: $24,261 – $42,715
Median · 5 years out
$53,073
middle 50%: $37,655 – $68,899
Median · 10 years out
$68,744
middle 50%: $48,456 – $92,360
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 at Western Illinois University see a median starting salary of $33k. Median pay reaches $53k in five years and $69k in ten years.
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
8.1 yrs
≈ $9,828 total interest
Same major at other universities
Ball State University
$53,277 · 5 yrs out
Macalester College
$53,264 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina -Greensboro
$53,221 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Superior
$53,174 · 5 yrs out
Randolph College
$53,158 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - South Bend
$53,150 · 5 yrs out
Spelman College
$53,060 · 5 yrs out
Adams State University
$52,839 · 5 yrs out
Columbus State University
$52,693 · 5 yrs out
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
$52,636 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Buffalo State University
$52,588 · 5 yrs out
College of Coastal Georgia
$52,479 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Western Illinois University
Education (Doctorate)
$163,593 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$107,538 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$98,269 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Master's)
$97,417 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$97,160 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,133 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$96,422 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$84,414 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$82,090 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$82,014 · 5 yrs out
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (Bachelor's)
$81,320 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$80,729 · 5 yrs out
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