Biology, General at Illinois College

Jacksonville, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
30 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
30
Optimistic
30
Base Case
30
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,438/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 3.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #651 of 822 Biology, General programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Biology, General graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $584K $578K $530K
Earnings Multiple 3.9x 3.9x 3.5x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 30 30 30

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$149,880
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$71,780
52% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,533
10.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,530
83% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Illinois College's Biology, General program produces graduates earning $31,438/yr — within striking distance of the $32,219 national average for this field.

An earnings multiple of 3.9x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Biology, General's typical career paths, with 40% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,533 represents roughly 10 months of the $31,438 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #651 of 822 Biology, General programs, Illinois College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $57,530 show a 83% jump from the $31,438 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Illinois College

A 75% acceptance rate means Illinois College is accessible to most applicants, a compact campus enrolling 925 students in Jacksonville, IL. The average net cost of $71,780 over four years represents a 52% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Illinois College →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists $100,590/yr
Biological scientists, all other $93,330/yr
View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Biology, General at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology, General at Illinois College?
A score of 30/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Biology, General. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Biology, General careers?
With 40% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $529,913 in decade earnings vs $584,190 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Illinois College a hidden gem for Biology, General?
After financial aid, the average student pays $71,780 over four years — 52% below the $149,880 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →