Home › Northeastern Illinois University › Biology, General

Biology, General at Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
51 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
51
Optimistic
51
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings $40,392/yr (25% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 11.6x earnings multiple (6.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #67 of 822 Biology, General programs Top 10%

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 $578K $572K $525K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.7x 11.6x 10.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.4x 6.3x 5.8x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 51 51 48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$49,532
Out-of-state: $90,904 (6.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$54,200
-9% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,075
3.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$60,795
51% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Northeastern Illinois University Biology, General graduates command $40,392/yr out of the gate, well above the $32,219 national median. That 25% premium suggests the program's reputation carries real labor-market weight.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Biology, General programs nationally.

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.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $13,075 in median debt clears quickly against $40,392 in annual earnings.

Ranked #67 of 822 programs, Northeastern Illinois University's Biology, General program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $60,795 show a 51% jump from the $40,392 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Northeastern Illinois University

A 70% acceptance rate means Northeastern Illinois University is accessible to most applicants, with a smaller student body of 3,869 in Chicago, IL. Pell Grant recipients make up 54% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Northeastern Illinois University →

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

Compare this program → View all 822 schools offering Biology, General →

Biology, General at Other Schools

University of San Diego ($54,223) Trinity College ($52,179) Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($51,711) Edgewood College ($51,134) Shepherd University ($49,165) Roger Williams University ($47,799) Barnard College ($47,329) Curry College ($46,736)

Other Majors at Northeastern Illinois University

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($63,615) Computer Science ($62,831) Accounting and Related Services ($50,475) Human Resources Management and Services ($49,131) Finance and Financial Management Services ($48,807) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($46,630) Business/Commerce, General ($45,015) Marketing ($43,320)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Biology, General trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology, General at Northeastern Illinois University?
A score of 51/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Biology, General field.
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 $525,417 in decade earnings vs $577,985 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →