by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/general-biology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 92 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general biology students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general biology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Bowdoin College the best value for a degree in general biology in the New England Region. Set in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,832. Students borrow a median of $20,658 to complete the general biology program here. Early-career general biology graduates make about $58,938. Set against $20,658 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 7%.
Middlesex Community College Bedford is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general biology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,098, with out-of-state students paying around $12,170. Students borrow a median of $11,602 to complete the general biology program here. General Biology graduates of Middlesex Community College Bedford earn a median of $48,427 early in their careers. Set against $11,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bunker Hill Community College earned it the #3 place for general biology. Set in the city of Boston, Bunker Hill Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,168, while out-of-state students pay about $11,112. General Biology graduates carry a median of $11,893 in student loans. General Biology graduates of Bunker Hill Community College earn a median of $51,782 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,893 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in general biology will find it at Worcester State University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,786, compared with $17,866 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,625 to complete the general biology program here. Early-career general biology graduates make about $44,450. That is a strong return on a $23,625 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general biology will find it at Northern Essex Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Haverhill, Northern Essex Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,732, while out-of-state students pay about $12,516. Students borrow a median of $6,239 to complete the general biology program here. Early-career general biology graduates make about $44,682. Set against $6,239 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Colby College came in at #6 for value in general biology this year. Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Waterville. Students from in state pay about $69,600 in tuition and fees. General Biology graduates carry a median of $22,016 in student loans. Early-career general biology graduates make about $43,597. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colby College admits about 7% of applicants.
Kennebec Valley Community College placed #7 among the best values for general biology. Kennebec Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Fairfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,156, while out-of-state students pay about $7,036. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $16,165. Early-career general biology graduates make about $43,896. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Holyoke Community College landed the #8 spot for general biology value this year. Set in the rural area of Holyoke, Holyoke Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,988, with out-of-state students paying around $10,932. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $5,300. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Holyoke Community College generally make around $43,423. That is a strong return on a $5,300 median debt.
Bristol Community College earned the #9 position for value in general biology this year. Bristol Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fall River. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,832, with out-of-state students paying around $10,776. Students borrow a median of $11,500 to complete the general biology program here. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Bristol Community College generally make around $37,897. That is a strong return on a $11,500 median debt.
Salem State University placed #10 among the best values for general biology. Located in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,338, while out-of-state students pay about $19,531. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $27,000. General Biology graduates of Salem State University earn a median of $45,670 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Rhode Island College came in at #11 for value in general biology this year. Set in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,300, compared with $27,299 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $26,949. General Biology graduates of Rhode Island College earn a median of $39,910 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,949 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Capital Community College landed the #12 spot for general biology value this year. Capital Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New Britain. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,338, with out-of-state students paying around $15,596. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $12,059. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Capital Community College generally make around $43,086. That is a strong return on a $12,059 median debt.
University Of Southern Maine ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value general biology schools. University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Portland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,090, while out-of-state students pay about $29,940. General Biology graduates carry a median of $25,125 in student loans. General Biology graduates of University Of Southern Maine earn a median of $43,722 early in their careers. Set against $25,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Southern Maine admits about 79% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value general biology schools. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lowell. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. General Biology graduates carry a median of $26,747 in student loans. General Biology graduates of University Of Massachusetts Lowell earn a median of $59,580 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Lowell admits about 83% of applicants.
Fitchburg State University earned the #15 position for value in general biology this year. Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Fitchburg. In-state tuition and fees average $11,346, while out-of-state students pay about $17,426. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $27,000. General Biology graduates of Fitchburg State University earn a median of $41,250 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Quinsigamond Community College placed #16 among the best values for general biology. Located in the city of Worcester, Quinsigamond Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,262, compared with $11,206 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $14,125. General Biology graduates of Quinsigamond Community College earn a median of $46,631 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Framingham State University earned the #17 position for value in general biology this year. Set in the city of Framingham, Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,920, with out-of-state students paying around $18,000. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $24,999. Early-career general biology graduates make about $42,472. Set against $24,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Framingham State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Bridgewater State University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value general biology schools. Located in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,734, while out-of-state students pay about $17,874. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general biology program here. Early-career general biology graduates make about $44,626. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Williams College placed #19 among the best values for general biology. Set in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,560 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,454 to complete the general biology program here. Early-career general biology graduates make about $41,213. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Westfield State University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value general biology schools. Set in the suburb of Westfield, Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,179 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,259. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $27,000. Early-career general biology graduates make about $42,776. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Westfield State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Harvard University came in at #21 for value in general biology this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $16,616. Early-career general biology graduates make about $74,161. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Bay Path College placed #22 among the best values for general biology. Bay Path College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Longmeadow. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,302. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general biology program here. Early-career general biology graduates make about $40,964. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #23 for value in general biology this year. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,898, while out-of-state students pay about $38,115. General Biology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career general biology graduates make about $42,721. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology placed #24 among the best values for general biology. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,396. General Biology graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans. General Biology graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $113,129 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology admits about 4% of applicants.
Central Connecticut State University placed #25 among the best values for general biology. Set in the suburb of New Britain, Central Connecticut State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,050, compared with $16,550 for out-of-state students. General Biology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career general biology graduates make about $36,907. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Central Connecticut State University admits about 73% of applicants.
These schools also delivered strong value for general biology this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 92 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 92 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.