2027 Best Value Biology Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Biology Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/biology-education/) 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 42 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for biology education students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Biology Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the biology education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Biology Education Schools
Leading the list is Saint Xavier University, our #1 best value for biology education in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,945 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for biology education graduates is $27,194. Soon after graduation, biology education degree recipients from Saint Xavier University generally make around $46,835. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned it the #2 place for biology education. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the biology education program here. Soon after graduation, biology education degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $51,105. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Students looking for strong value in biology education will find it at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Biology Education graduates carry a median of $21,182 in student loans. Early-career biology education graduates make about $51,816. That is a strong return on a $21,182 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Northwest earned it the #4 place for biology education. Located in the suburb of Gary, Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Typical student debt for biology education graduates is $26,434. Early-career biology education graduates make about $48,925. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Ferris State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value biology education schools. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,778. Biology Education graduates carry a median of $29,076 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biology education degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $44,977. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ferris State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value biology education schools. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,746 to complete the biology education program here. Soon after graduation, biology education degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $52,308. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Indiana University South Bend landed the #7 spot for biology education value this year. Set in the city of South Bend, Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Biology Education graduates carry a median of $26,498 in student loans. Biology Education graduates of Indiana University South Bend earn a median of $47,733 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University landed the #8 spot for biology education value this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Typical student debt for biology education graduates is $24,998. Early-career biology education graduates make about $49,745. That is a strong return on a $24,998 median debt. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Albion College landed the #9 spot for biology education value this year. Albion College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Albion. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,950. Students borrow a median of $26,047 to complete the biology education program here. Biology Education graduates of Albion College earn a median of $40,829 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Youngstown State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value biology education schools. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,926, while out-of-state students pay about $10,286. Biology Education graduates carry a median of $26,751 in student loans. Biology Education graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $49,025 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,751 median debt. Youngstown State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value biology education schools. Set in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $9,648 in tuition and fees. Biology Education graduates carry a median of $33,307 in student loans. Biology Education graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earn a median of $53,372 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Michigan University landed the #12 spot for biology education value this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biology education graduates is $29,000. Biology Education graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $48,382 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Madonna University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value biology education schools. Set in the city of Livonia, Madonna University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,440. Biology Education graduates carry a median of $26,896 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biology education degree recipients from Madonna University generally make around $56,984. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Central Michigan University earned the #14 position for value in biology education this year. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Typical student debt for biology education graduates is $29,000. Soon after graduation, biology education degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $52,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Concordia University Chicago landed the #15 spot for biology education value this year. Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. In-state tuition and fees average $37,488. Biology Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Biology Education graduates of Concordia University Chicago earn a median of $58,760 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Eastern Michigan University earned the #16 position for value in biology education this year. Eastern Michigan University is a large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. Students from in state pay about $16,990 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the biology education program here. Soon after graduation, biology education degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $46,732. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Illinois State University earned the #17 position for value in biology education this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Students borrow a median of $24,149 to complete the biology education program here. Biology Education graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $50,102 early in their careers. Set against $24,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Trinity Christian College earned the #18 position for value in biology education this year. Set in the suburb of Palos Heights, Trinity Christian College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,605. Typical student debt for biology education graduates is $27,000. Early-career biology education graduates make about $48,400. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Bethel College Mishawaka came in at #19 for value in biology education this year. Set in the city of Mishawaka, Bethel College Mishawaka is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,600. Typical student debt for biology education graduates is $31,824. Biology Education graduates of Bethel College Mishawaka earn a median of $44,496 early in their careers. Set against $31,824 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Grace College And Theological Seminary landed the #20 spot for biology education value this year. Set in the town of Winona Lake, Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,645. Biology Education graduates carry a median of $21,211 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biology education degree recipients from Grace College And Theological Seminary generally make around $42,188. Set against $21,211 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Spring Arbor University earned the #21 position for value in biology education this year. Spring Arbor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Spring Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,014. Students borrow a median of $28,360 to complete the biology education program here. Biology Education graduates of Spring Arbor University earn a median of $53,080 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,360 median debt. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
Viterbo University placed #22 among the best values for biology education. Set in the city of La Crosse, Viterbo University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,250. Biology Education graduates carry a median of $29,107 in student loans. Early-career biology education graduates make about $60,309. Set against $29,107 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Millikin University landed the #23 spot for biology education value this year. Located in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,792. Biology Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career biology education graduates make about $43,936. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Ashland University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value biology education schools. Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ashland. Students from in state pay about $31,210 in tuition and fees. Biology Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Biology Education graduates of Ashland University earn a median of $48,852 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Bradley University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value biology education schools. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,160. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the biology education program here. Early-career biology education graduates make about $42,917. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Rest of the Top 42 Best Value Biology Education Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for biology education this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 42 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 42 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.
