2026 Best Value Biological & Biomedical Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in biological & biomedical sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Biological & Biomedical Sciences Schools
Our analysis ranked North Central State College the best value for a degree in biological & biomedical sciences in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the rural area of Mansfield, North Central State College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,786, compared with $11,374 for out-of-state students. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates carry a median of $12,236 in student loans. Early-career biological & biomedical sciences graduates make about $47,458. That is a strong return on a $12,236 median debt.
Sinclair Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in biological & biomedical sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,675, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates carry a median of $11,854 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biological & biomedical sciences degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $35,348. That is a strong return on a $11,854 median debt.
Millikin University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in biological & biomedical sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $26,792. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,631 in student loans. Early-career biological & biomedical sciences graduates make about $58,852. Set against $20,631 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Students looking for strong value in biological & biomedical sciences will find it at Indiana University Northwest, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Gary, Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Students borrow a median of $26,434 to complete the biological & biomedical sciences program here. Early-career biological & biomedical sciences graduates make about $48,925. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Northwest admits about 73% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Springfield is a great value for students pursuing a degree in biological & biomedical sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,557, with out-of-state students paying around $20,139. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates carry a median of $22,116 in student loans. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of $33,882 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Henry Ford Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & biomedical sciences schools. Henry Ford Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,568, while out-of-state students pay about $7,816. Students borrow a median of $18,876 to complete the biological & biomedical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, biological & biomedical sciences degree recipients from Henry Ford Community College generally make around $36,247. That is a strong return on a $18,876 median debt.
University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College came in at #7 for value in biological & biomedical sciences this year. University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blue Ash. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,106, while out-of-state students pay about $15,904. Typical student debt for biological & biomedical sciences graduates is $17,032. Soon after graduation, biological & biomedical sciences degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College generally make around $42,936. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College placed #8 among the best values for biological & biomedical sciences. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,517 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,044. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates carry a median of $17,730 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biological & biomedical sciences degree recipients from Cincinnati State Technical And Community College generally make around $47,975. That is a strong return on a $17,730 median debt.
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #9 position for value in biological & biomedical sciences this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Typical student debt for biological & biomedical sciences graduates is $15,590. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $31,509 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,590 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #10 for value in biological & biomedical sciences this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,889 to complete the biological & biomedical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, biological & biomedical sciences degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $40,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #11 for value in biological & biomedical sciences this year. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biological & biomedical sciences graduates is $16,045. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $32,550 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #12 position for value in biological & biomedical sciences this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Students borrow a median of $17,746 to complete the biological & biomedical sciences program here. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $40,520 early in their careers. Set against $17,746 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Mott Community College came in at #13 for value in biological & biomedical sciences this year. Mott Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Flint. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,845, compared with $11,460 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,250 to complete the biological & biomedical sciences program here. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates of Mott Community College earn a median of $28,480 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Youngstown State University landed the #14 spot for biological & biomedical sciences value this year. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,926, compared with $10,286 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biological & biomedical sciences graduates is $19,000. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $29,689 early in their careers. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Indiana University East landed the #15 spot for biological & biomedical sciences value this year. Indiana University East is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Students borrow a median of $24,098 to complete the biological & biomedical sciences program here. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates of Indiana University East earn a median of $49,598 early in their careers. Set against $24,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University earned the #16 position for value in biological & biomedical sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Students borrow a median of $23,630 to complete the biological & biomedical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, biological & biomedical sciences degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $42,339. Set against $23,630 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Governors State University earned the #17 position for value in biological & biomedical sciences this year. Governors State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,004. Typical student debt for biological & biomedical sciences graduates is $31,250. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates of Governors State University earn a median of $43,641 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Governors State University admits about 48% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Dearborn ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & biomedical sciences schools. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $15,640 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Typical student debt for biological & biomedical sciences graduates is $23,836. Soon after graduation, biological & biomedical sciences degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $20,671. Set against $23,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #19 for value in biological & biomedical sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,092. Students borrow a median of $22,396 to complete the biological & biomedical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, biological & biomedical sciences degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $47,191. That is a strong return on a $22,396 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern Illinois University came in at #20 for value in biological & biomedical sciences this year. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,383, while out-of-state students pay about $22,726. Students borrow a median of $14,031 to complete the biological & biomedical sciences program here. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $40,392 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,031 median debt. Northeastern Illinois University admits about 75% of applicants.
Saint Xavier University came in at #21 for value in biological & biomedical sciences this year. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,945. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,939 in student loans. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $37,977 early in their careers. Set against $26,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Xavier University admits about 84% of applicants.
Indiana State University earned the #22 position for value in biological & biomedical sciences this year. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,258, while out-of-state students pay about $22,322. Typical student debt for biological & biomedical sciences graduates is $21,948. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates of Indiana State University earn a median of $43,656 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,948 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Ferris State University earned the #23 position for value in biological & biomedical sciences this year. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,778. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the biological & biomedical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, biological & biomedical sciences degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $27,334. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ferris State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Augustana College Illinois ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & biomedical sciences schools. Set in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,598. Students borrow a median of $26,807 to complete the biological & biomedical sciences program here. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates of Augustana College Illinois earn a median of $36,475 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,807 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & biomedical sciences schools. Located in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,532, while out-of-state students pay about $22,887. Typical student debt for biological & biomedical sciences graduates is $24,696. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne earn a median of $42,937 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Biological & Biomedical Sciences Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s biological & biomedical sciences value ranking:
Narrow Biological & Biomedical Sciences Schools by State
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 253 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 126 ranked schools only.
- 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.
[Biological & Biomedical Sciences](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
