2026 Best General Biology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best General Biology graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 1781 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor evaluated schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 General Biology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Harvard University tops our 2026 ranking of the best General Biology graduate certificate degree schools in the United States. Set in Cambridge, MA, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 98% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete their General Biology program here. Read the full report on Harvard University
You'll be in good company at George Mason University, which ranked #2 this year. Set in Fairfax, VA, George Mason University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,625 to complete their General Biology program here. Read the full report on George Mason University
A rank of #3 makes Columbia University In The City Of New York one of the top choices in the United States. Based in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Typical General Biology student debt is $19,892. See the full Columbia University In The City Of New York profile
The strong General Biology programs at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned it the #4 place in the United States. Set in Indianapolis, IN, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. The median General Biology program debt is $22,500. More on Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #5 on this year's General Biology ranking in the United States. Located in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete their General Biology program here. See the full North Carolina State University At Raleigh profile
Temple University landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. Set in Philadelphia, PA, Temple University is a public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $23,005, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete their General Biology program here. See the full Temple University profile
New York University placed #7 among General Biology schools in the United States. Set in New York, NY, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. New York University posts a six-year graduation rate of 88%. In-state tuition and fees run about $62,796. Typical General Biology student debt is $21,250. More on New York University
University Of Nebraska At Omaha ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best General Biology schools. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a public school based in Omaha, NE. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,718, compared with $23,206 for out-of-state students. Typical General Biology student debt is $21,250. Read more about University Of Nebraska At Omaha
William Paterson University Of New Jersey ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best General Biology schools. Located in Wayne, NJ, William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a public institution. William Paterson University Of New Jersey graduates 44% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $15,704 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,344. Graduates carry a median of $25,860 in student loans. Read more about William Paterson University Of New Jersey
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best General Biology schools. This public school is set in Ann Arbor, MI. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete their General Biology program here. Read more about University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Richmond, VA. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Typical General Biology student debt is $21,712. Read more about Virginia Commonwealth University
University Of Massachusetts Lowell landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Lowell, MA. University Of Massachusetts Lowell graduates 65% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $16,966 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,264. The median General Biology program debt is $26,747. Get the full University Of Massachusetts Lowell report
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best General Biology schools. This public school is set in Charlotte, NC. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates 69% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. The median General Biology program debt is $26,000. Read more about University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. University Of Missouri Columbia is a public school based in Columbia, MO. About 75% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. The median General Biology program debt is $23,188. See the full University Of Missouri Columbia profile
Western Kentucky University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best General Biology schools. Western Kentucky University is a public school based in Bowling Green, KY. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Typical General Biology student debt is $22,500. Read the full report on Western Kentucky University
University Of South Carolina Columbia landed the #16 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Columbia, SC. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. Students from in state pay about $12,688 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,298. Students borrow a median of $24,620 to complete their General Biology program here. See the full University Of South Carolina Columbia profile
Oakland University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best General Biology schools. Oakland University is a public school based in Rochester Hills, MI. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Typical General Biology student debt is $25,435. Read the full report on Oakland University
University Of Connecticut did well this year, earning the #18 position. This public school is set in Storrs, CT. University Of Connecticut posts a six-year graduation rate of 83%. In-state tuition and fees average $21,044, while out-of-state students pay about $43,712. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete their General Biology program here. Get the full University Of Connecticut report
The University Of Texas At Dallas placed #19 among General Biology schools in the United States. Based in Richardson, TX, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,644, with out-of-state students paying around $40,144. The median General Biology program debt is $18,750. See the full The University Of Texas At Dallas profile
Central Connecticut State University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Located in New Britain, CT, Central Connecticut State University is a public institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,050, with out-of-state students paying around $16,550. Graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Read the full report on Central Connecticut State University
Stony Brook University landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Set in Stony Brook, NY, Stony Brook University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,931, with out-of-state students paying around $32,741. Typical General Biology student debt is $21,000. See the full Stony Brook University profile
Florida Atlantic University placed #22 among General Biology schools in the United States. Florida Atlantic University is a public school based in Boca Raton, FL. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,537 to complete their General Biology program here. More on Florida Atlantic University
Montana State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best General Biology schools. This public school is set in Bozeman, MT. Montana State University graduates 57% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,460, while out-of-state students pay about $33,287. Graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. More on Montana State University
The University Of Texas At El Paso did well this year, earning the #24 position. Based in El Paso, TX, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,544 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,502. Typical General Biology student debt is $18,479. More on The University Of Texas At El Paso
University Of Alabama At Birmingham landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Located in Birmingham, AL, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Students from in state pay about $9,098 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,562. The median General Biology program debt is $25,000. Read more about University Of Alabama At Birmingham
Rest of the Top 50 Best General Biology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Florida International University came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Florida International University is a public school based in Miami, FL. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Florida International University General Biology students take on a median of $15,000 in debt. More on Florida International University
University Of North Texas Health Science Center did well this year, earning the #27 position. Located in Fort Worth, TX, University Of North Texas Health Science Center is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,224, compared with $24,415 for out-of-state students. More on University Of North Texas Health Science Center
Alverno College
Alverno College ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best General Biology schools. Read more about Alverno College
Baldwin Wallace College did well this year, earning the #29 position. More on Baldwin Wallace College
College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland came in at #30 in this year's ranking. More on College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland
Cumberland University came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Get the full Cumberland University report
Cuny Graduate School And University Center landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Cuny Graduate School And University Center report
East Mississippi Community College placed #33 among General Biology schools in the United States. More on East Mississippi Community College
Miami Dade College did well this year, earning the #34 position. Read more about Miami Dade College
Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Santa Rosa Junior College
Sewanee The University Of The South placed #36 among General Biology schools in the United States. See the full Sewanee The University Of The South profile
South Georgia State College came in at #37 in this year's ranking. Read more about South Georgia State College
Colorado Christian University placed #38 among General Biology schools in the United States. Get the full Colorado Christian University report
Fayetteville State University landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. See the full Fayetteville State University profile
Indian River State College did well this year, earning the #40 position. Get the full Indian River State College report
Nassau Community College placed #41 among General Biology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Nassau Community College
Northwest Mississippi Community College came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Read more about Northwest Mississippi Community College
Texas State Technical College placed #43 among General Biology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Texas State Technical College
University Of Central Oklahoma placed #44 among General Biology schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Central Oklahoma
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best General Biology schools. Read the full report on University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
University Of Puget Sound came in at #46 in this year's ranking. Get the full University Of Puget Sound report
Clarkson University did well this year, earning the #47 position. See the full Clarkson University profile
East Texas Baptist University ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best General Biology schools. More on East Texas Baptist University
Grambling State University did well this year, earning the #49 position. Get the full Grambling State University report
Judson University ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best General Biology schools. More on Judson University
Related General Biology Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best General Biology Schools (All Levels)
- Best General Biology Certificate Degree Schools
- Best General Biology Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best General Biology Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools
- Best General Biology Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1781 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).