2027 Best General Biology Schools in Pennsylvania
General Biology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 82 schools to find the best for general biology students.
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Best Schools for General Biology in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general biology education in Pennsylvania.
Top Schools in General Biology
Lafayette College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in general biology. Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Easton. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 46 general biology degrees were awarded at Lafayette College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $41,885 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,000.
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Thomas Jefferson University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general biology, ranking #2. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 86 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Thomas Jefferson University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $64,243 in their early career. Thomas Jefferson University graduates carry a median of $32,256 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong general biology program will find one at University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #3. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 188 general biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $31,055 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,047 to complete this degree.
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Lehigh University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general biology, landing the #4 spot this year. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Lehigh University graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 51 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Lehigh University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $45,695 in their early career. Lehigh University graduates carry a median of $23,128 in student loans.
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Carnegie Mellon University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best general biology schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 38 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Carnegie Mellon University earn around $89,327 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,506.
More information about a degree in general biology from Carnegie Mellon University
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earned the #6 position for general biology this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Chester. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 108 general biology students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
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Haverford College landed the #7 spot for general biology this year. Haverford College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Haverford. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 28 general biology degrees were awarded at Haverford College in the most recent year.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #8 for general biology this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 298 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn a median of $33,417 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #9 among the best general biology schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 375 general biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $34,074 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Villanova University landed the #10 spot for general biology this year. Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. About 94 general biology degrees were awarded at Villanova University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Villanova University earn around $31,818 in the first couple years of their career. Villanova University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Duquesne University placed #11 among the best general biology schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 75 general biology degrees were awarded at Duquesne University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Duquesne University earn around $36,643 in the first couple years of their career. Duquesne University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Swarthmore College landed the #12 spot for general biology this year. Located in the suburb of Swarthmore, Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 general biology degrees were awarded at Swarthmore College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Swarthmore College generally make around $41,122. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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Temple University came in at #13 for general biology this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 225 general biology degrees were awarded at Temple University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $35,101 in their early career. Temple University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Franklin And Marshall College landed the #14 spot for general biology this year. Franklin And Marshall College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lancaster. Franklin And Marshall College graduates 84% of students within six years. Franklin And Marshall College awarded about 35 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of Franklin And Marshall College earn a median of $37,950 early in their careers. Franklin And Marshall College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
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Saint Josephs University placed #15 among the best general biology schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. Saint Josephs University awarded about 124 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Saint Josephs University earn around $33,767 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,228.
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Arcadia University placed #16 among the best general biology schools. Located in the suburb of Glenside, Arcadia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 51 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Arcadia University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Arcadia University generally make around $40,110. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Bucknell University placed #17 among the best general biology schools. Set in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Bucknell University graduates 86% of students within six years. About 65 general biology degrees were awarded at Bucknell University in the most recent year. General Biology graduates of Bucknell University earn a median of $38,765 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,672 to complete this degree.
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Drexel University came in at #18 for general biology this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 78% of students finish within six years. Drexel University awarded about 146 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Drexel University earn around $44,671 in the first couple years of their career. Drexel University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general biology from Drexel University
Messiah College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best general biology schools. Located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg, Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Messiah College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Messiah College generally make around $48,957. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Dickinson College came in at #20 for general biology this year. Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Carlisle. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 general biology degrees were awarded at Dickinson College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $23,097 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Scranton came in at #21 for general biology this year. University Of Scranton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Scranton awarded about 58 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from University Of Scranton earn around $31,251 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Scranton graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Ursinus College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best general biology schools. Ursinus College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Collegeville. Ursinus College graduates 73% of students within six years. There were roughly 57 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Ursinus College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $38,360 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Gettysburg College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best general biology schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Gettysburg. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Gettysburg College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $43,376 in their early career. Gettysburg College graduates carry a median of $25,816 in student loans.
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Bryn Mawr College landed the #24 spot for general biology this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr. Bryn Mawr College graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Bryn Mawr College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Bryn Mawr College generally make around $35,668. Bryn Mawr College graduates carry a median of $23,069 in student loans.
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Elizabethtown College came in at #25 for general biology this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Elizabethtown. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 30 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Elizabethtown College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $36,891 in their early career. Elizabethtown College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 General Biology Schools
These schools also placed among the best for general biology this year:
More General Biology Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 82 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.