Marine Biology Degree in Springfield, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Marine Biology degree analysis for Springfield, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Reviewed May 21, 2026. DegreeCalc calculators are educational planning tools; verify final tuition, aid, transcript, loan, and employment decisions with official school, federal, servicer, or employer records.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$57K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.5 yrs
in Springfield
Cost of Living
92
index (100 = avg)
Marine Biology in Springfield, IL Overview
Springfield, Illinois (pop. 114,394) has 9 local education-market benchmark points for Marine Biology planning. The local cost of living index of 92 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $642/month. Marine Biology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Scuba Diving and Marine Ecology. The adjusted starting salary in Springfield is approximately $46,000.
Category
STEM
Local Benchmarks
9
Public Tuition
$12,413/yr
Private Tuition
$27,201/yr
Room & Board
$13,584/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,401/yr
Unemployment (est.)
5.8%
Graduation Rate (est.)
61%
How to Study Marine Biology in Springfield: Campus, Online, or Transfer
Students searching for a Marine Biology degree in Springfield, IL usually need a practical path, not just a salary estimate. Use the three options below to compare local cost, credential quality, and flexibility before applying.
Nearby Campus Path
Start with NCES College Navigator and each school's catalog. Confirm the program name, degree level, tuition, graduation rate, internship support, and whether the Marine Biology major is actually offered at that campus.
Online Degree Path
Marine Biology is not always a clean fully-online fit. Look for hybrid programs and ask whether required labs, clinics, studios, or field placements can be completed near Springfield.
Transfer-Cost Path
Community college tuition near Springfield averages $4,980/year in this model. A 2+2 transfer plan can reduce debt if the receiving university accepts credits into the Marine Biology major.
We intentionally avoid listing unverified local school names on this page. Always verify programs with official school catalogs, NCES/IPEDS, and financial aid offices before applying.
Marine Biology Salary in Springfield (COL-Adjusted)
Modeled salaries: national benchmarks for the major scaled by an estimated Springfield cost of living index of 92 (national average = 100). These are not measured local wages.
Note: National Marine Biology salary benchmarks used by this model: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Springfield adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.
Marine Biology ROI Calculator for Springfield
Estimate your return on investment for a Marine Biology degree using DegreeCalc's modeled Springfield tuition and cost of living estimates.
Public est.: $12,413 | Private est.: $27,201
Springfield est. aid: $7,401/yr
Federal undergrad (2026-27): 6.52% | Private rates vary by credit
Total Education Cost
$103,988
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,800
vs HS diploma in Springfield
ROI Payback Period
7.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Springfield
$126,012
Lifetime earnings premium ($230,000) minus total education cost ($103,988)
Student Loan Payoff for Marine Biology in Springfield
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Springfield Education Cost Inputs for Marine Biology
This local ROI model uses aggregate tuition, aid, housing, and cost-of-living inputs for Springfield, not a ranked list of individual schools. Confirm any specific program with NCES College Navigator or the school before applying.
Local benchmarks
9
Public tuition
$12,413/yr
Private tuition
$27,201/yr
Community college
$4,980/yr
Top Employers for Marine Biology in Springfield
Typical hiring sectors for Marine Biology graduates include Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies; these are general sector categories, not a verified list of Springfield employers. Common employer types nationally include:
Typical Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Marine Biology Job Titles
Other STEM Majors in Springfield
Prompt Engineering
$46K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$87K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$78K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$81K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$75K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$78K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$74K starting · 3 yr ROI
Methodology & Education Data Sources
How we estimate Marine Biology degree outcomes in Springfield, IL: This page is a planning model. It combines DegreeCalc's national salary benchmarks for the major with internal city-level estimates for tuition, room and board, aid, unemployment, graduation rate, and cost of living. The figures are not official statistics for Springfield and are not pulled directly from federal datasets for this city.
- Tuition defaults to the modeled Springfield public tuition estimate (not program-specific Marine Biology tuition). Verify actual program prices in IPEDS / College Navigator.
- Salary estimates multiply the national benchmark for Marine Biology by the estimated Springfield cost of living index divided by 100. This is a simple scaling assumption, not BLS local wage data.
- Payback period = (tuition + room and board − aid over the years of study) ÷ (adjusted starting salary − a $35,000 high school benchmark scaled by the same index). Lifetime return = the major's lifetime earnings premium benchmark scaled by the index, minus that net cost. Loan interest is shown separately and is not subtracted.
- Job market outlook is not projected on this page; see the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for official 10-year projections.
- Default rates are not modeled here; College Scorecard reports repayment outcomes by institution.
Authoritative US education data sources:
- IPEDS — Integrated Postsecondary Education Data — official federal college data
- College Scorecard (US Dept of Education) — earnings, debt, completion rates
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Marine Biology career projections
- Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) — official US student loan and grant info
- NCES Digest of Education Statistics — comprehensive education data
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wages — entry-level salary data for Marine Biology grads
Education Disclaimer: Salary and ROI estimates are projections based on national and state-level averages. Individual outcomes depend on institution prestige, GPA, internships, location, network, and economic conditions. Always verify current tuition with the institution directly, and consult a financial aid counselor before taking on student loans. Use the Federal Loan Simulator to model repayment scenarios.
Reviewed by Tobias Merrick · Last updated 2026 · Model estimates; verify with the official sources above
Financial Aid Resources for Springfield Students
Beyond federal aid (FAFSA), Illinois students have access to state-specific grants, scholarships, and tuition assistance programs. The Department of Education has begun showing lower-earnings warnings for some programs on the FAFSA, and a federal earnings accountability test for Direct Loan eligibility takes effect July 1, 2027 — check your target program's outcomes:
Pell Grant maximum is set each award year. Undergraduate Direct Loans at 6.52% (first disbursed July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027):
State-specific grants stack with federal aid:
- • USA.gov — Illinois programs
- • NASFAA — State Aid Programs
- • Search "illinois higher education commission grants"
Verify earnings + debt before enrolling:
- • College Scorecard — earnings, debt, completion
- • NCES College Navigator
- • IPEDS Net Price Calculator Center
Free, official, scam-free scholarship databases:
FAFSA tip: Check any lower-earnings warning and the program's College Scorecard earnings data before enrolling. Speak with a NASFAA-credentialed financial aid counselor at your target school.
Marine Biology Degree in Springfield — FAQ
What is the starting salary for Marine Biology graduates in Springfield?
DegreeCalc estimates a starting salary of about $46,000 per year for Marine Biology graduates in Springfield, IL. This is not a measured local wage: the model takes its national starting-salary benchmark for the major ($50,000) and scales it by an estimated local cost of living index of 92, so the local estimate is 8% lower than the national benchmark by construction. Check BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for actual local wages.
Is a Marine Biology degree worth it in Springfield?
A Marine Biology degree in Springfield has an estimated ROI payback period of 7.5 years, with a projected lifetime return of $126,012 after subtracting education costs. With 9 local cost benchmark points and estimated public tuition of $12,413/year, Springfield offers affordable planning assumptions for this degree. The modeled local unemployment rate of 5.8% and the major's national unemployment benchmark of 5.5% should also factor into your decision.
How much does it cost to study Marine Biology in Springfield?
DegreeCalc's planning model estimates public university tuition in Springfield at about $12,413 per year and private university tuition at about $27,201/year. Including estimated room and board ($13,584/year), modeled 4-year costs range from $103,988 at a public school to $163,140 at a private institution, with estimated average aid of $7,401/year. These are planning estimates; confirm real prices with each school's net price calculator.
Can I study Marine Biology online while living in Springfield?
Marine Biology is less commonly offered as a fully online program, so students in Springfield, IL should verify nearby campus, hybrid, and transfer options before planning around remote coursework. Always confirm program availability directly with the school.
What jobs can Marine Biology graduates get in Springfield?
Marine Biology graduates in Springfield can pursue careers as Marine Biologist, Aquarist, Environmental Consultant. Skills commonly associated with this field include Scuba Diving, Marine Ecology, Field Research, Water Quality Analysis. Typical hiring sectors for this field include Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies; verify which of these are active in Springfield with local job postings. Common employer types nationally include NOAA, Monterey Bay Aquarium, USGS.
How long to pay off student loans for Marine Biology in Springfield?
With a standard 10-year repayment plan at 6.5% interest, Marine Biology graduates in Springfield would pay $1,181/month on an estimated $103,988 in loans, with $37,704 in total interest. An aggressive 5-year plan would require $2,035/month but save $19,613 in interest. With the model's COL-adjusted starting salary estimate of $46,000, monthly payments would represent 31% of gross monthly income.
Data note: Salary, tuition, aid, and cost-of-living figures on this page are DegreeCalc planning estimates, not official values. For official data, check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, BLS Regional Data, and NCES/IPEDS.
Explore More
Compare Marine Biology ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Springfield.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the starting salary for Marine Biology graduates in Springfield?
DegreeCalc estimates a starting salary of about $46,000 per year for Marine Biology graduates in Springfield, IL. This is not a measured local wage: the model takes its national starting-salary benchmark for the major ($50,000) and scales it by an estimated local cost of living index of 92, so the local estimate is 8% lower than the national benchmark by construction. Check BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for actual local wages.
Is a Marine Biology degree worth it in Springfield?
A Marine Biology degree in Springfield has an estimated ROI payback period of 7.5 years, with a projected lifetime return of $126,012 after subtracting education costs. With 9 local cost benchmark points and estimated public tuition of $12,413/year, Springfield offers affordable planning assumptions for this degree. The modeled local unemployment rate of 5.8% and the major's national unemployment benchmark of 5.5% should also factor into your decision.
How much does it cost to study Marine Biology in Springfield?
DegreeCalc's planning model estimates public university tuition in Springfield at about $12,413 per year and private university tuition at about $27,201/year. Including estimated room and board ($13,584/year), modeled 4-year costs range from $103,988 at a public school to $163,140 at a private institution, with estimated average aid of $7,401/year. These are planning estimates; confirm real prices with each school's net price calculator.
Can I study Marine Biology online while living in Springfield?
Marine Biology is less commonly offered as a fully online program, so students in Springfield, IL should verify nearby campus, hybrid, and transfer options before planning around remote coursework. Always confirm program availability directly with the school.
What jobs can Marine Biology graduates get in Springfield?
Marine Biology graduates in Springfield can pursue careers as Marine Biologist, Aquarist, Environmental Consultant. Skills commonly associated with this field include Scuba Diving, Marine Ecology, Field Research, Water Quality Analysis. Typical hiring sectors for this field include Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies; verify which of these are active in Springfield with local job postings. Common employer types nationally include NOAA, Monterey Bay Aquarium, USGS.
How long to pay off student loans for Marine Biology in Springfield?
With a standard 10-year repayment plan at 6.5% interest, Marine Biology graduates in Springfield would pay $1,181/month on an estimated $103,988 in loans, with $37,704 in total interest. An aggressive 5-year plan would require $2,035/month but save $19,613 in interest. With the model's COL-adjusted starting salary estimate of $46,000, monthly payments would represent 31% of gross monthly income.