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2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region

92 Ranked Colleges
6,017 Degrees Awarded
$15,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

With 102,043 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, general biology is the 5th most popular major in the United States. 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.

Across the Plains States region, there were 6,702 general biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,984 and $23,545 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 6,017 general biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 92 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general biology. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general biology programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general biology program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Biology in the Plains States Region

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Fargo, North Dakota. It awarded 124 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

North Dakota State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University - Main Campus is $16,584 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students.

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 full report on General Biology at North Dakota State University

#2

Bellevue University

Bellevue, Nebraska

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bellevue University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Bellevue, Nebraska, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 26 degrees to qualified bachelors’s biology students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,616 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biology students per year to attend Bellevue University.

Full Bellevue University General Biology Report

#3

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend South Dakota State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. Located in Brookings, South Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 77 degrees to qualified bachelors’s biology students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $19,252 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biology students per year to attend South Dakota State University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full South Dakota State General Biology Report

#4

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Winona State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Winona, Minnesota, and it awarded 79 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Winona State, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,656 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students per year to attend Winona State University.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 General Biology at Winona State

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southwest Minnesota State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Marshall, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s biology degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,397 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biology students per year to attend Southwest Minnesota State University.

Read full report on General Biology at Southwest Minnesota State University

#6

Northern State University

Aberdeen, South Dakota

With a ranking of #6, Northern State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. NSU is a public institution located in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for NSU is $15,851 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students.

Read more about General Biology at NSU

#7

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota

Bemidji State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region 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 plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students.

Full Bemidji State University General Biology Report

#8

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. This fairly large school is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and it awarded 80 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of North Dakota is $15,738 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UND General Biology Report

#9

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 71 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s biology students in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University also took the #19 spot in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Saint Cloud State University is $14,267 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biology students.

Read more about General Biology at Saint Cloud State University

#10

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri

Truman State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Kirksville, Missouri, this small public school awarded 97 degrees to qualified bachelors’s biology students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Truman State University is $12,462 for plains states region 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%. 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 full report on General Biology at Truman State University

Minnesota State University - Mankato ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Mankato, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s biology degrees to 102 students in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Mankato is $16,221 for plains states region 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%.

Read more about General Biology at Minnesota State Mankato

University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #12. UMN Duluth is located in Duluth, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 143 bachelors’s biology degrees to qualified students.

UMN Duluth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $17,067 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biology students per year to attend UMN Duluth.

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%.

Full University of Minnesota - Duluth General Biology Report

#13

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Metropolitan State University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 48 degrees to qualified bachelors’s biology students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Metro State is $15,225 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students.

Read more about General Biology at Metro State

University of Minnesota - Morris ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Morris, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s biology degrees to 62 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UMN Morris is $11,412 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students.

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 General Biology at University of Minnesota - Morris

#15

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 90 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNI, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,620 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. 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%.

Read more about General Biology at University of Northern Iowa

#16

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota

University of South Dakota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #16. USD is located in Vermillion, South Dakota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 72 bachelors’s biology degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $18,555 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students per year to attend USD.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Biology at USD

#17

Central College

Pella, Iowa

Central College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Central is a small school located in Pella, Iowa that handed out 36 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $23,269 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biology students per year to attend Central.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Biology at Central College

Northwest Missouri State University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Northwest Missouri State University is a medium-sized school located in Maryville, Missouri that handed out 48 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,354 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biology students per year to attend Northwest.

Read more about General Biology at Northwest

Minnesota State University - Moorhead ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. MSU Moorhead is located in Moorhead, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 37 bachelors’s biology degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Moorhead is $16,893 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Biology at MSU Moorhead

#20

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

With a ranking of #20, University of Central Missouri did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Warrensburg, Missouri, this medium-sized public school handed out 74 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s biology students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UCM is $13,677 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biology students.

Read full report on General Biology at UCM

#21

Black Hills State University

Spearfish, South Dakota

Black Hills State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. BHSU is a small public school situated in Spearfish, South Dakota. It awarded 16 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $16,641 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students per year to attend BHSU.

Read full report on General Biology at BHSU

#22

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Southeast Missouri State University is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 118 bachelors’s biology degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $12,774 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students.

Read more about General Biology at Southeast Missouri State University

Fort Hays State University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. FHSU is a public institution located in Hays, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 71 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for FHSU is $12,053 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students.

Full FHSU General Biology Report

University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Kearney, Nebraska, this medium-sized public school handed out 32 degrees to qualified bachelors’s biology students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UNK is $16,017 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biology students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Nebraska at Kearney General Biology Report

#25

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Charles, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s biology degrees to 63 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $17,491 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students per year to attend Lindenwood University.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%.

Read full report on General Biology at Lindenwood University

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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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