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2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

92 Ranked Colleges
5,782 Degrees Awarded
$10,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 91,804 biology studies students received their degree, making the major the 6th most popular in the country.

Across the Plains States region, there were 6,231 biology studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 5,782 biology studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 92 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in biology studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great biology studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the biology studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The biological sciences school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree biological sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Biology Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washington University in St Louis. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Washington University in St Louis is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 115 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WUSTL, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WUSTL is $5,273 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Biology Studies at WUSTL

#2

Carleton College

Northfield, Minnesota
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carleton College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northfield, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s biological sciences degrees to 61 students in 2019-2020.

Carleton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Carleton College is $9,579 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Carleton Biology Studies Report

#3

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 92 schools in the Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #3 spot on the list. UMN Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 359 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities also took the #2 spot in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $7,266 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UMN Twin Cities Biology Studies Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Morris. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Minnesota - Morris is a small school located in Morris, Minnesota that handed out 62 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Morris is $4,230 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biological sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Biology Studies at UMN Morris

#11 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Missouri University of Science and Technology. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Rolla, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s biological sciences degrees to 56 students in 2019-2020.

Missouri University of Science and Technology not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri University of Science and Technology is $10,755 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biological sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Biology Studies at Missouri University of Science and Technology

#6

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri

Truman State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. This small school is located in Kirksville, Missouri, and it awarded 97 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Truman State University is $7,564 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Biology Studies at Truman State University

#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UMN Duluth is a fairly large public school situated in Duluth, Minnesota. It awarded 141 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree biological sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMN Duluth has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Duluth is $7,443 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Biology Studies at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#8

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota
#4 in overall quality

St Olaf College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Northfield, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 114 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Olaf did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,459 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biological sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend St Olaf College.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Biology Studies at St. Olaf

#20 in overall quality

Iowa State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Iowa State is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 190 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State also made our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #20. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State University is $10,054 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read more about Biology Studies at Iowa State University

#10

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#14 in overall quality

University of Northern Iowa ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cedar Falls, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s biological sciences degrees to 85 students in 2019-2020.

UNI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,757 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biological sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.

The low student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Biology Studies at UNI

#11

Grinnell College

Grinnell, Iowa
#1 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Grinnell College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Grinnell is a private not-for-profit institution located in Grinnell, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 41 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Grinnell, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,945 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biological sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Grinnell College.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Grinnell College Biology Studies Report

#7 in overall quality

North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Fargo, North Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 124 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Dakota State University, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University - Main Campus is $11,524 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biological sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Biology Studies at North Dakota State University - Main Campus

#13

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#19 in overall quality

Saint Cloud State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s biological sciences degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University also took the #19 spot in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,688 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biological sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend St. Cloud State University.

Full Saint Cloud State University Biology Studies Report

#14

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#9 in overall quality

Winona State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Winona State is a medium-sized public school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 79 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Winona State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State University is $12,381 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biological sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Biology Studies at Winona State

#22 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. University of Missouri - Columbia is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 189 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees to qualified students.

Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Columbia is $10,940 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full University of Missouri - Columbia Biology Studies Report

#17 in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Mankato ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a fairly large public school situated in Mankato, Minnesota. It awarded 102 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also took the #17 spot in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato is $11,057 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Biology Studies at Minnesota State University - Mankato

#17

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. University of Missouri - St Louis is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 72 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UMSL is $7,401 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biological sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Biology Studies at University of Missouri - St Louis

#24 in overall quality

University of Nebraska - Lincoln landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UNL is a public institution located in Lincoln, Nebraska. The school has a large population, and it awarded 110 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UNL is $12,216 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Nebraska - Lincoln Biology Studies Report

#19

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, University of Iowa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and it awarded 108 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa also took the #8 spot in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $12,975 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biological sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Biology Studies at University of Iowa

Northwest Missouri State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Maryville, Missouri, and it awarded 48 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,990 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biological sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwest.

Read more about Biology Studies at Northwest Missouri State University

With a ranking of #21, Southwest Minnesota State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southwest Minnesota State University is a public institution located in Marshall, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,801 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southwest Minnesota State University.

Full Southwest Minnesota State University Biology Studies Report

#22

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota

Bemidji State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Bemidji, Minnesota, this small public school handed out 42 degrees to qualified bachelors’s biological sciences students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,632 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bemidji State University.

Read more about Biology Studies at Bemidji State University

#23

Macalester College

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#13 in overall quality

Macalester College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s biological sciences degrees to 43 students in 2019-2020.

Macalester did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Macalester College is $10,158 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Biology Studies at Macalester

#24

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UND is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It awarded 80 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,092 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biological sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UND.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Biology Studies at UND

University of Nebraska at Omaha ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this fairly large public school awarded 117 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s biological sciences students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Nebraska at Omaha is $10,490 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Biology Studies at UNOMAHA

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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