When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
With 107,165 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, general biology is the 5th most popular major in the United States. In 2019-2020, general biology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $28,334 and had an average of $23,818 in loans still to pay off.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major” ranking, we looked at 1,753 colleges that offer a degree in general biology. That schools that top this list have a program in general biology in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major” 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
The colleges and universities below are the best for biology students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major. Duarte, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s biology degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rockefeller University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major list. Rockefeller University is a small school located in New York, New York that handed out 33 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on General Biology at Rockefeller University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major list. Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine is a private not-for-profit institution located in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 83 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Out of the 1,753 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Texas Health Science Center landed the #5 spot on the list. University of North Texas Health Science Center is a public institution located in Fort Worth, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 280 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full University of North Texas Health Science Center General Biology Report
Bluefield College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major ranking. Located in Bluefield, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 113 degrees to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico - Arecibo did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Arecibo, , this small private not-for-profit school handed out 37 degrees to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on General Biology at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico - Arecibo
With a ranking of #8, Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major list. Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 90 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major ranking, coming in at #9. Bryn Athyn College of the New Church is a small school located in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania that handed out 17 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
With a ranking of #10, Rust College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major list. Rust College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Holly Springs, Mississippi. It awarded 25 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Centenary College of Louisiana came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major ranking. Centenary College of Louisiana is located in Shreveport, Louisiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Union College Nebraska landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major ranking. Union College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lincoln, Nebraska. The school has a small population, and it awarded 54 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%.
Xavier University of Louisiana came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major ranking. Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 120 degrees to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.
Alice Lloyd College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major ranking, coming in at #14. Alice Lloyd is a small school located in Pippa Passes, Kentucky that handed out 15 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #15, Harris - Stowe State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major list. Harris - Stowe State University is a small public school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 40 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #16, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major list. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is a small school located in New York, New York that handed out 63 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Biology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Presbyterian College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major ranking, coming in at #17. Presbyterian College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Clinton, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 44 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.
University of Puerto Rico - Cayey did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Cayey, , this small public school awarded 99 degrees to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major ranking. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is a small public school situated in Cheyney, Pennsylvania. It awarded 19 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on General Biology at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Fisk University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major ranking. Fisk is a small school located in Nashville, Tennessee that handed out 20 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
Bennett College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major ranking, coming in at #21. Bennett College is located in Greensboro, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Inter American University of Puerto Rico - San German ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major list. Inter American University of Puerto Rico - San German is a small school located in San German, that handed out 122 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad 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%.
Read full report on General Biology at Inter American University of Puerto Rico - San German
Alcorn State University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major ranking. Alcorn State is a small school located in Alcorn State, Mississippi that handed out 128 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
University of California - Merced came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major ranking. Merced, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s biology degrees to 360 students in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of California - Merced General Biology Report
Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Fajardo did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major ranking, coming in at #25. Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Fajardo is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fajardo, . The school has a small population, and it awarded 47 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%.
Full Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Fajardo General Biology Report
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Rank | College | Location |
---|---|---|
51 | Spelman College | Atlanta, GA |
52 | Oglethorpe University | Atlanta, GA |
53 | Benedict College | Columbia, SC |
54 | Miles College | Fairfield, AL |
54 | University of South Carolina - Beaufort | Bluffton, SC |
56 | Ursinus College | Collegeville, PA |
57 | Millsaps College | Jackson, MS |
58 | Lyon College | Batesville, AR |
59 | Oakwood University | Huntsville, AL |
60 | Albion College | Albion, MI |
61 | Alabama A & M University | Normal, AL |
62 | Christopher Newport University | Newport News, VA |
63 | Randolph - Macon College | Ashland, VA |
64 | Copiah-Lincoln Community College | Wesson, MS |
65 | Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR |
Read more about our data sources and methodologies