2027 Best General Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
General Biology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general biology programs.
College Factual analyzed 162 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best general biology schools.
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Best Schools for General Biology in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general biology education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in General Biology
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign the best school in the country for a degree in general biology. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 28 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best general biology schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 522 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $35,798 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the top schools for general biology. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 344 general biology degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. General Biology graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $40,145 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,380.
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Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general biology, ranking #4. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 152 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Northwestern University earn around $86,946 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $14,800 in student loans.
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University Of Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general biology, ranking #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. About 185 general biology degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $35,275 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete this degree.
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Butler University came in at #6 for general biology this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. Butler University awarded about 52 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $68,222 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Indiana University Bloomington landed the #7 spot for general biology this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 283 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $36,500 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
See the full general biology program report for Indiana University Bloomington
Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #8 for general biology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. Illinois Institute Of Technology awarded about 34 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $71,315 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,774.
More information about a degree in general biology from Illinois Institute Of Technology
Wheaton College Illinois earned the #9 position for general biology this year. Located in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 16 general biology degrees were awarded at Wheaton College Illinois in the most recent year. General Biology graduates of Wheaton College Illinois earn a median of $43,654 early in their careers. Wheaton College Illinois graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin La Crosse placed #10 among the best general biology schools. This large public university is located in the city of La Crosse. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse graduates 71% of students within six years. About 214 general biology degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse in the most recent year. Students who receive their general biology degree from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn around $46,305 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,034.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best general biology schools. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 352 general biology degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $26,888. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Notre Dame landed the #12 spot for general biology this year. University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 131 general biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $32,876 early in their careers. University Of Notre Dame graduates carry a median of $20,750 in student loans.
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Kenyon College came in at #13 for general biology this year. Kenyon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Gambier. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Kenyon College awarded about 21 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $37,976 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,114 to complete this degree.
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Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #14 for general biology this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 515 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $32,356. Students borrow a median of $23,362 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general biology from Ohio State University Main Campus
Miami University Oxford ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best general biology schools. Miami University Oxford is a very large public school located in the town of Oxford. Miami University Oxford graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 425 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Miami University Oxford in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Miami University Oxford earn around $43,120 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,368 to complete this degree.
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University Of Detroit Mercy earned the #16 position for general biology this year. University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Detroit. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. University Of Detroit Mercy awarded about 191 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of University Of Detroit Mercy earn a median of $19,882 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #17 position for general biology this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. About 74% of students finish within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 179 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $34,092 early in their careers. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,766 in student loans.
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Marquette University landed the #18 spot for general biology this year. Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 207 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Marquette University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $28,555. Students borrow a median of $25,296 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire landed the #19 spot for general biology this year. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire awarded about 90 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire generally make around $34,507. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
See the full general biology program report for University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best general biology schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. There were roughly 389 general biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $28,768 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,000.
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #21 among the best general biology schools. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 113 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $47,191 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,396.
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Michigan State University placed #22 among the best general biology schools. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Michigan State University graduates 81% of students within six years. About 611 general biology degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $26,435 in their early career. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $26,849 in student loans.
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Loyola University Chicago came in at #23 for general biology this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 289 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $27,226. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Depauw University came in at #24 for general biology this year. Located in the town of Greencastle, Depauw University is a small private not-for-profit university. Depauw University graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Depauw University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Depauw University generally make around $46,127. Students borrow a median of $25,366 to complete this degree.
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Northern Illinois University placed #25 among the best general biology schools. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. Northern Illinois University awarded about 81 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $42,339 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,630 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general biology program at Northern Illinois University
Rest of the Top 50 General Biology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general biology ranking:
Honorable Mentions
Also worth considering for general biology:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 162 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.