Evolutionary Biology programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for evolutionary biology students pursuing a degree.
The school you choose for evolutionary biology can shape your career. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Evolutionary Biology rankings. For our Best Overall Evolutionary Biology School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Evolutionary Biology Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Evolutionary Biology in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the evolutionary biology degrees they offer, see the list below.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign tops our 2027 ranking of the best evolutionary biology schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 evolutionary biology degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, evolutionary biology degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in evolutionary biology from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Students looking for a strong evolutionary biology program will find one at Princeton University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 38 evolutionary biology students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their evolutionary biology degree from Princeton University earn around $53,038 in the first couple years of their career. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans.
Read more about the evolutionary biology program at Princeton University
Purdue University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in evolutionary biology, ranking #3. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 14 evolutionary biology degrees in the most recent data year. Evolutionary Biology graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,844.
More information about a degree in evolutionary biology from Purdue University Main Campus
A rank of #4 makes Indiana University Bloomington one of the top schools for evolutionary biology. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 evolutionary biology students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their evolutionary biology degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $52,123 in the first couple years of their career. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans.
See the full evolutionary biology program report for Indiana University Bloomington
Colorado College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best evolutionary biology schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Colorado Springs. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 evolutionary biology degrees were awarded at Colorado College in the most recent year. Students who receive their evolutionary biology degree from Colorado College earn around $37,342 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,921.
More information about a degree in evolutionary biology from Colorado College
University Of California Irvine ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best evolutionary biology schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. University Of California Irvine awarded about 36 evolutionary biology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, evolutionary biology degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $50,958. Students borrow a median of $16,539 to complete this degree.
Read more about the evolutionary biology program at University Of California Irvine
University Of Colorado Boulder landed the #7 spot for evolutionary biology this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 190 evolutionary biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Colorado Boulder in the most recent data year. Students who receive their evolutionary biology degree from University Of Colorado Boulder earn around $37,184 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Colorado Boulder graduates carry a median of $23,331 in student loans.
Read more about the evolutionary biology program at University Of Colorado Boulder
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #8 for evolutionary biology this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 65 evolutionary biology degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Students who receive their evolutionary biology degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $46,846 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,242 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in evolutionary biology from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Northeastern University came in at #9 for evolutionary biology this year. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. Northeastern University awarded about 23 evolutionary biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their evolutionary biology degree from Northeastern University earn around $39,255 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,611.
See the full evolutionary biology program report for Northeastern University
University Of California Davis landed the #10 spot for evolutionary biology this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 52 evolutionary biology degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Students who receive their evolutionary biology degree from University Of California Davis earn around $32,161 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,951.
More information about a degree in evolutionary biology from University Of California Davis
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #11 spot for evolutionary biology this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 22 evolutionary biology degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the evolutionary biology program make about $63,289 in their early career. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans.
Get the full evolutionary biology details for University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
University Of Kansas ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best evolutionary biology schools. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 42 evolutionary biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kansas in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, evolutionary biology degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $56,289. Students borrow a median of $23,608 to complete this degree.
See the full evolutionary biology program report for University Of Kansas
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #13 for evolutionary biology this year. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 evolutionary biology students who graduated with this degree at Brigham Young University Provo in the most recent data year. Evolutionary Biology graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $24,143 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,459.
See the full evolutionary biology program report for Brigham Young University Provo
Northern Arizona University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best evolutionary biology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Flagstaff. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 evolutionary biology students who graduated with this degree at Northern Arizona University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their evolutionary biology degree from Northern Arizona University earn around $47,056 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,645 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in evolutionary biology from Northern Arizona University
Michigan Technological University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best evolutionary biology schools. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 11 evolutionary biology degrees were awarded at Michigan Technological University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, evolutionary biology degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $64,652. Michigan Technological University graduates carry a median of $25,800 in student loans.
More information about a degree in evolutionary biology from Michigan Technological University
University Of California Santa Cruz earned the #16 position for evolutionary biology this year. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 69 evolutionary biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent data year. Students who receive their evolutionary biology degree from University Of California Santa Cruz earn around $25,810 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,887.
See the full evolutionary biology program report for University Of California Santa Cruz
University Of Arizona earned the #17 position for evolutionary biology this year. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 38 evolutionary biology degrees were awarded at University Of Arizona in the most recent year. Graduates of the evolutionary biology program make about $50,834 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,861 to complete this degree.
See the full evolutionary biology program report for University Of Arizona
Central Michigan University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best evolutionary biology schools. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. Central Michigan University awarded about 25 evolutionary biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their evolutionary biology degree from Central Michigan University earn around $50,688 in the first couple years of their career. Central Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,857 in student loans.
Get the full evolutionary biology details for Central Michigan University
Saint Cloud State University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best evolutionary biology schools. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. Saint Cloud State University awarded about 14 evolutionary biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their evolutionary biology degree from Saint Cloud State University earn around $24,862 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the evolutionary biology program at Saint Cloud State University
The University Of Texas At El Paso ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best evolutionary biology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of El Paso. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 33 evolutionary biology students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At El Paso in the most recent data year. Evolutionary Biology graduates of The University Of Texas At El Paso earn a median of $48,335 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,819.
Read more about the evolutionary biology program at The University Of Texas At El Paso
Eastern Michigan University landed the #21 spot for evolutionary biology this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. There were roughly 10 evolutionary biology students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Michigan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their evolutionary biology degree from Eastern Michigan University earn around $47,887 in the first couple years of their career. Eastern Michigan University graduates carry a median of $28,781 in student loans.
Read more about the evolutionary biology program at Eastern Michigan University
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 21 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
