2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s” ranking.
In 2019-2020, 102,043 general biology students received their degree, making the major the 5th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, general biology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $28,233 and had an average of $23,964 in loans still to pay off.
At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 85,887 general biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s” ranking, we looked at 953 colleges that offer a degree in general biology. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general biology programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the general biology program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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The biology 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 Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s”.
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Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s.
Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Biology
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a public institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 262 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UW - La Crosse also took the #18 spot in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - La Crosse is $14,580 for bachelor’s degree biology students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Wisconsin - La Crosse General Biology Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s. Brigham Young University - Idaho is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rexburg, Idaho. The school has a large population, and it awarded 230 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho is $7,167 for Bachelor’s Degree Biology students.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Biology at Brigham Young University - Idaho
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Puerto Rico - Humacao. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s. University of Puerto Rico - Humacao is located in Humacao, and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 51 bachelors’s biology degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $9,537 for Bachelor’s Degree Biology students per year to attend UPR Humacao.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s list. North Dakota State University is a fairly large school located in Fargo, North Dakota that handed out 124 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, North Dakota State University is in the top on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend North Dakota State University is $16,584 for bachelor’s degree biology students.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full North Dakota State University - Main Campus General Biology Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s list. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a medium-sized school located in River Falls, Wisconsin that handed out 89 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, UW - River Falls also did well on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $13,748 for bachelor’s degree biology students.
The low student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Wisconsin - River Falls General Biology Report
Bellevue University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #6. Bellevue, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s biology degrees to 26 students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $15,616 for bachelor’s degree biology students per year to attend Bellevue University.
With a ranking of #7, South Dakota State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s list. South Dakota State is a fairly large school located in Brookings, South Dakota that handed out 77 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State University is $19,252 for bachelor’s degree biology students.
The low student loan default rate of 3.8% 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%.
Winona State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Winona State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 79 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
Winona State also claimed a top spot on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. It costs about $17,656 for bachelor’s degree biology students per year to attend Winona State University.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, SRU is in the top on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is $19,926 for bachelor’s degree biology students.
Read more about General Biology at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Southwest Minnesota State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #10. This medium-sized school is located in Marshall, Minnesota, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Southwest Minnesota State University is $14,397 for bachelor’s degree biology students.
Read more about General Biology at Southwest Minnesota State University
Northern State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. This small school is located in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend NSU is $15,851 for bachelor’s degree biology students.
University of Wisconsin - Platteville ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Platteville, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 81 degrees to qualified bachelors’s biology students in 2019-2020.
UW - Platteville excels when it comes to biology quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Platteville is $15,718 for bachelor’s degree biology students.
Full University of Wisconsin - Platteville General Biology Report
Purdue University Northwest came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Purdue University Northwest is a medium-sized school located in Hammond, Indiana that handed out 76 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $11,250 for bachelor’s degree biology students per year to attend Purdue University Northwest.
Bemidji State University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. This small school is located in Bemidji, Minnesota, and it awarded 42 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Bemidji State University is $15,868 for bachelor’s degree biology students.
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 95 degrees to qualified bachelors’s biology students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $15,463 for Bachelor’s Degree Biology students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh.
With a ranking of #16, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Whitewater, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s biology degrees to 101 students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Whitewater is $15,249 for bachelor’s degree biology students.
Full University of Wisconsin - Whitewater General Biology Report
West Texas A&M University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Canyon, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 87 degrees to qualified bachelors’s biology students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for West Texas A&M University is $12,761 for Bachelor’s Degree Biology students.
Read full report on General Biology at West Texas A&M University
University of North Dakota ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s list. UND is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It awarded 80 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $15,738 for Bachelor’s Degree Biology students per year to attend University of North Dakota.
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 more about General Biology at University of North Dakota
Saint Cloud State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Saint Cloud State University is a public institution located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 71 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, St. Cloud State University also did well on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $14,267 for Bachelor’s Degree Biology students per year to attend Saint Cloud State University.
Truman State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #20. Truman State University is a small school located in Kirksville, Missouri that handed out 97 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Truman State University is $12,462 for bachelor’s degree biology students.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Indian River State College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Fort Pierce, Florida, this fairly large public school handed out 38 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s biology students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $2,003 for Bachelor’s Degree Biology students per year to attend Indian River State College.
Read full report on General Biology at Indian River State College
With a ranking of #22, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Mankato, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 102 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s biology students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, Minnesota State Mankato is in the top on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State Mankato is $16,221 for Bachelor’s Degree Biology students.
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%.
Full Minnesota State University - Mankato General Biology Report
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #23. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is a fairly large school located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin that handed out 119 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $16,020 for Bachelor’s Degree Biology students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.
With a ranking of #24, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s list. SIUE is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 134 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for SIUE is $14,423 for bachelor’s degree biology students.
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 28 bachelors’s biology degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $14,395 for bachelor’s degree biology students.
Full University of Wisconsin - Green Bay General Biology Report
Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s
While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | University of South Florida - Main Campus | Tampa, FL |
| 52 | SUNY Cortland | Cortland, NY |
| 53 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico - San German | San German, PR |
| 54 | Youngstown State University | Youngstown, OH |
| 55 | University of Wisconsin - Superior | Superior, WI |
| 56 | Oklahoma Panhandle State University | Goodwell, OK |
| 57 | MSU Texas | Wichita Falls, TX |
| 58 | University of Central Oklahoma | Edmond, OK |
| 59 | Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | Tifton, GA |
| 60 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Fajardo | Fajardo, PR |
| 61 | Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, GA |
| 62 | University of Central Missouri | Warrensburg, MO |
| 63 | Black Hills State University | Spearfish, SD |
| 64 | Southeast Missouri State University | Cape Girardeau, MO |
| 65 | University of North Texas | Denton, TX |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 141 | California State University - Fresno | Fresno, CA |
| 142 | Murray State University | Murray, KY |
| 143 | Purdue University - Main Campus | West Lafayette, IN |
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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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