U.S. median for this major: $44,201.
College Scorecard field of study; 61 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 50% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $24,393.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $28,329. College Scorecard.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Zoology / Animal Biology: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Illinois colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Zoology / Animal Biology nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $9,415 | $40,673 | 5.5 years |
| $30–48k | $8,497 | $36,707 | 5.0 years |
| $48–75k | $10,308 | $44,531 | 6.0 years |
| $75–110k | $17,724 | $76,568 | 10.3 years |
| $110k+ | $23,254 | $100,457 | 13.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (40% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Zoology / Animal Biology graduates 4 years after graduating ($43,207) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IL (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $7,410 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Careers for Zoology / Animal Biology graduates
Natural Sciences Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +8.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Biological Technicians
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +7.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +3.6% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
- Acceptance rate: 87% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 62% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $53,390
- Full cost breakdown · all 93 majors · overview
Related majors at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
- Biology$51,947
- Biochemistry—
- Microbiological Sciences and Immunology—
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Zoology / Animal Biology questions
How much do Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Zoology / Animal Biology graduates earn?
Zoology / Animal Biology graduates of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale earn a median $43,207 four years after graduating and $23,366 one year after. The U.S. median for Zoology / Animal Biology graduates across 52 colleges is $44,201.
How much debt do Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Zoology / Animal Biology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Zoology / Animal Biology graduates of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale is $21,717, about 50% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,393.
Where does Southern Illinois University-Carbondale rank for Zoology / Animal Biology in Illinois?
Of 1 Illinois colleges reporting Zoology / Animal Biology graduate earnings, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Zoology / Animal Biology graduates get?
A common career is natural sciences managers, with a median wage of $159,670 in Illinois and $167,220 nationally. Others include biological technicians and zoologists and wildlife biologists.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Zoology / Animal Biology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/southern-illinois-university-carbondale/majors/zoology-animal-biology (College Scorecard and BLS data).