Get my odds
Normal, IL · Biology

Biology at Illinois State University

Illinois State University graduates about 142 biology majors a year, 3% of its graduating class. That puts it 470th of 692 schools we score for biology, a light program at 44 out of 100. Its current catalog lists 121 undergraduate courses in the field, more than 91% of the schools we've counted. Graduates in the major earn a median $64,000 four years out, 1.10× what the same major pays nationally. Research spending in the field runs about $4 million a year, a rough guide to how many labs and projects undergraduates can join.

44/100Light#470 of 692 for biology →
Graduates a year1423% of the class
Courses in the catalog121more than 91% of schools
Median pay 4 years out$64,0001.10× the same major nationally
Research in the field$4Ma year, NSF
Admit rate88%whole school
SAT middle 50%1000–1210whole school

Around Illinois State University

Normal Fire Department Station 2 at 604 N. Adelaide St., Normal IL (Mike Matejka
Normal Fire Tower Co 2Photo: Mike Matejka photo · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
yup.. he got boo'd
Govornor Rauner (21741991758)Photo: H. Michael Miley from Schaumburg, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
IMG_1044
Ralph Nader IMG 1044 (2421190687)Photo: soundfromwayout · CC BY 2.0 · source
Attendees at the Illinois State University tour stop of the "American Comeback T
Spring American Comeback Tour 2025 438Photo: Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source

Where biology happens

Buildings on campus that fit the field: Core Construction Laboratory, Center for Mathematics, Science, and Technology, Student Health Services Building, Felmley Hall of Science Annex, Felmley Hall of Science, Science Lab Building.

Named buildings on the campus map: Academic 50 · Student housing 8 · Dorm 8 · Athletics 6 · Chapel 5 · Arts 3.

Open the full-screen campus map →

Nearby in the biology ranking

  1. University of Hartford 45
  2. Alfred University 45
  3. University of Texas at El Paso 44
  4. California State Polytechnic University–Pomona 44
  5. University of Akron 44
  6. SUNY Oswego 44
  7. Cleveland State University 44
  8. Marshall University 44

Other strong majors at Illinois State University

How the score works

The score is out of 100 and compares Illinois State University with every school we score in biology. It weighs the school's overall strength; how many students graduate in the major and what share of the class they are; research spending in the field (NSF); early pay against the same major nationally; how many courses the catalog lists; and test scores. 80+ is a standout program, 65+ strong, 45+ solid. Sources: US Department of Education (College Scorecard, IPEDS), NSF HERD, each school's current course catalog, OpenStreetMap and Wikimedia Commons.

See your odds at Illinois State University Everything about Illinois State University