Best Neuroscience Schools Near Sterling, IL (2026)

Updated September 5, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Sterling, Illinois has 5 accredited schools offering neuroscience programs, with tuition ranging from $36,658 to $68,134 per year for indexed programs. Sterling has a population of about 14,670. Median household income is $52,647 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 18.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Illinois, the top-earning neuroscience-related role is Pharmacists at a median $139,080 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Neuroscience Schools to Sterling

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer neuroscience programs near Sterling, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Sterling city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Sterling. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Augustana College

Rock Island, IL 48.7 miles from Sterling
  • 4 year
62.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 78%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $62,971
Avg net price $22,736/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 82%
  • Programs offered: 68

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Knox College

Galesburg, IL 68.8 miles from Sterling
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
54.5 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 71%
Graduation rate 68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,820
Avg net price $24,595/yr
Tuition
In‑state$57,903
Out‑of‑state$57,903
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 82%
  • Programs offered: 41

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Monmouth College

Monmouth, IL 78.3 miles from Sterling
  • 4 year
42.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 58%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,110
Avg net price $17,133/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 72%
  • Programs offered: 33

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

North Central College

Naperville, IL 80.0 miles from Sterling
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
67.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 69%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $60,123
Avg net price $21,044/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 79%
  • Programs offered: 70

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

Dominican University

River Forest, IL 96.6 miles from Sterling
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
68.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 59%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $60,327
Avg net price $11,745/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 79%
  • Programs offered: 63

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington, IL 97.6 miles from Sterling
  • 4 year
62.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 82%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $70,871
Avg net price $28,199/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 82%
  • Programs offered: 41

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#7

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, IL 100.8 miles from Sterling
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
59.9 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 57%
Graduation rate 74%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $61,825
Avg net price $28,673/yr
Tuition
In‑state$56,402
Out‑of‑state$56,402
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 88%
  • Programs offered: 35

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL 105.0 miles from Sterling
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
81.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 97%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $89,363
Avg net price $29,167/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 98%
  • Programs offered: 167

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois neuroscience page.

Neuroscience Wages Near Sterling

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Illinois, statewide)
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $82,330
Biochemists and Biophysicists $87,010
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists $83,750
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary $99,060
Biological Technicians $55,790
Pharmacists $139,080
Biological Scientists, All Other $82,640
Psychologists, All Other $69,810

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Sterling at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 14,670 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $52,647 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 18.5% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Sterling-Area Cities With Neuroscience Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited neuroscience schools are near Sterling, IL?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering neuroscience programs near Sterling. The closest is Augustana College in Rock Island, IL (48.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Monmouth College (78.3 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying neuroscience roles in Illinois?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying neuroscience-related roles in Illinois are: Pharmacists ($139,080), Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary ($99,060), Biochemists and Biophysicists ($87,010). Wages for Sterling workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Clinton instead of Sterling?

Clinton, IA is 28.3 miles from Sterling and has its own set of local neuroscience programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Sterling an affordable place to study neuroscience?

Sterling’s median household income of $52,647 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Sterling while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Illinois public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Neuroscience Programs

Other Programs Available in Sterling

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Sterling:

Data verified: September 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

Back to Best Neuroscience Schools in Illinois: Online Programs (2026)