Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region

47 Ranked Colleges
984 Degrees Awarded
$17,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Biology Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” 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.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 12,471 general biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,353 and $25,097 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 984 general biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 47 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.

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

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 Master’s in the Great Lakes Region”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Biology in the Great Lakes Region

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 Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. La Crosse, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s biology degrees to 24 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree biology students list, UW - La Crosse has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - La Crosse are $20,038, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Biology at UW - La Crosse

#2

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

Out of the 47 schools in the Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Illinois State is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 10 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree biology students list, Illinois State has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State University are $11,069, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Illinois State University General Biology Report

#3

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#11 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Grand Valley State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Allendale, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s biology degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

GVSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at GVSU are $17,448, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Biology at GVSU

#4

John Carroll University

University Heights, Ohio
#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend John Carroll University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. Located in University Heights, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s biology students in 2019-2020.

John Carroll also made our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at John Carroll University are $15,957, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full John Carroll University General Biology Report

#5

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#23 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northern Illinois University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. NIU is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 14 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree biology students list, NIU has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Northern Illinois University General Biology Report

With a ranking of #6, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 19 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are $9,300, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Biology at SIUE

#7

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Youngstown, Ohio, and it awarded 5 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Youngstown State University are $9,495, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Biology at Youngstown State University

#8

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana

Purdue University Northwest did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. Purdue Northwest is located in Hammond, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s biology degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University Northwest are $11,633, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Biology at Purdue Northwest

#9

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#2 in overall quality

Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. Purdue is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 11 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree biology students list, Purdue has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus General Biology Report

#10

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#16 in overall quality

Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s biology degrees to qualified students.

Central Michigan also made our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359.

Read full report on General Biology at Central Michigan University

#11

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Western Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 17 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Western Illinois University are $11,996.

Read more about General Biology at Western Illinois University

#12

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 56 diplomas to qualified masters’s biology students in 2019-2020.

Loyola Chicago also took the #8 spot in our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola University Chicago are $19,154, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Biology at Loyola University Chicago

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Bowling Green, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 19 degrees to qualified masters’s biology students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at BGSU are $15,823, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Biology at BGSU

With a ranking of #14, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is a fairly large public school situated in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It awarded 5 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Oshkosh are $18,744, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Biology at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

#15

Marian University

Indianapolis, Indiana
#19 in overall quality

Marian University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 47 diplomas to qualified masters’s biology students in 2019-2020.

Marian also made our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. Average graduate tuition and fees at Marian are $19,720, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Marian University General Biology Report

#16

University of Dayton

Dayton, Ohio
#17 in overall quality

University of Dayton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. UDayton is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dayton, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UDayton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UDayton are $17,780, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Biology at University of Dayton

#17

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, Indiana

With a ranking of #17, Indiana State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Indiana State is a fairly large school located in Terre Haute, Indiana that handed out 10 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana State University are $15,346, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Biology at Indiana State University

#15 in overall quality

Michigan Technological University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Houghton, Michigan, and it awarded 7 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree biology students list, Michigan Tech has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan Technological University are $21,996, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Biology at Michigan Technological University

#19

Northern Michigan University

Marquette, Michigan

Northern Michigan University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Northern Michigan University is located in Marquette, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s biology degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Michigan University are $13,660, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Biology at Northern Michigan University

#20

Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Purdue University Fort Wayne did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #20. PFW is a public institution located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University Fort Wayne are $14,618.

Read full report on General Biology at PFW

#21

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. EIU is a public institution located in Charleston, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 23 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at EIU are $20,761, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Biology at EIU

With a ranking of #22, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Akron, Ohio, and it awarded 5 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Akron Main Campus are $15,217.

Read full report on General Biology at University of Akron Main Campus

University of Wisconsin - Parkside landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Kenosha, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s biology degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Parkside are $18,768.

Read full report on General Biology at UW - Parkside

#24

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, DePaul University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s biology degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at DePaul, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul University are $19,760, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full DePaul General Biology Report

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #25, University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree biology students list, UC has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC are $26,644.

Full University of Cincinnati - Main Campus General Biology Report

Switch to a Similar Major

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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.

Featured Biology Schools

Find Schools Near You