Environmental Science Programs Near Freeport, Illinois

Quick answer: 20 colleges within 100 miles of Freeport, Illinois award a environmental science degree, the nearest about 34 miles away (IPEDS Completions, 2024). Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in Illinois earn a median $81,590 per year against $82,220 nationally (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Environmental Science Program Access Near Freeport, Illinois

Distance from FreeportColleges awarding this degree
Within 25 miles0
Within 50 miles1
Within 100 miles20
Within 250 miles79

Source: IPEDS Completions, 2024, counting institutions that reported awarding this degree, joined to IPEDS institution coordinates. Distances are straight-line.

Access around Freeport is thinner than in the larger Illinois metros. The nearest college awarding this degree is roughly 34 miles away and 20 sit within 100 miles, which is the case where an online or low-residency program earns its keep.

Colleges Near Freeport

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 10 schools within 102 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 10 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL 101.5 miles away BOC Score 81.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 95.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 23
  • Annual completions: 459
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $109,275 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Wheaton College

Wheaton, IL 83.9 miles away BOC Score 75.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 1
  • Annual completions: 12
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $57,675 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Lewis University

Romeoville, IL 92.9 miles away BOC Score 73.8
Tuition $39,200 - $47,313
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 71.3%
  • Graduation rate: 64.6%
  • Programs offered: 30
  • Annual completions: 440
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $66,586 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

North Central College

Naperville, IL 84.4 miles away BOC Score 67.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 67.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 15
  • Annual completions: 130
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $61,656 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Aurora University

Aurora, IL 75.7 miles away BOC Score 66.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 59.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 212
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $64,521 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL 50.9 miles away BOC Score 65.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 49.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 495
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $64,583 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, IL 90.8 miles away BOC Score 64.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 67.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 18
  • Annual completions: 251
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $63,784 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Augustana College

Rock Island, IL 71.9 miles away BOC Score 62.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 76.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 5
  • Annual completions: 46
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $60,377 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#9

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, IL 92.5 miles away BOC Score 59.9
Tuition $56,402 - $70,655
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 56.8%
  • Graduation rate: 74.3%
  • Programs offered: 2
  • Annual completions: 26
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $62,893 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago, IL 100.5 miles away BOC Score 35.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 18.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 9
  • Annual completions: 136
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $60,607 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

What Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Earn in Illinois

The Illinois median for environmental scientists and specialists, including health is $81,590 per year, below the national median of $82,220, on state employment of 1,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

These are statewide figures. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish wages at city level, so no page can tell you what this job pays in Freeport specifically. For the metro-level picture where it is published, and the full percentile spread, see the Illinois page.

Choosing a Environmental Science Program From Freeport

The subject matter does not change by location: environmental chemistry, hydrology and geology, GIS and remote sensing, toxicology and risk assessment, and environmental policy. What changes is how you take it. Ask each college whether the program holds accreditation from a recognized institutional accreditor, how much of the coursework is delivered online, and which components require you on campus. Credit transfer is decided by the receiving institution and genuinely varies, so request a written transfer evaluation before you enroll.

Other Illinois Cities

Rockford * Sterling * Belvidere * Peru * Moline * Saint Charles * Ottawa * Galesburg

Sources

  • U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Completions, 2024 - institutions awarding this degree, with IPEDS institution coordinates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (SOC 19-2041)

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.