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Best Value General Biology Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

2023 Best Value General Biology Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

135 Colleges
$14,978 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$27,375 Avg Salary

Finding the Best General Biology Bachelor's Degree School for You

With 107,165 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, general biology is the #5 most popular major in the United States.

There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

The Best Value General Biology Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 135 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones offered the best value bachelor's degree programs for biology students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

Top 15% Best General Biology Bachelor's Degree Schools

Our analysis found University of Wisconsin - River Falls to be the best value school for general biology students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the Great Lakes Region . UW - River Falls is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of River Falls.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - River Falls are $15,661 per year. Biology majors at UW - River Falls take out an average of $22,355 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, UW - River Falls also did well on our Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

Full General Biology at University of Wisconsin - River Falls Report

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The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value general biology schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the large suburb of Edwardsville, SIUE is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SIUE are $11,496 per year. The average amount in student loans that biology majors at SIUE take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $23,358. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $235, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the small city of La Crosse, UW - La Crosse is a public college with a large student population.

UW - La Crosse undergraduate students pay an average of $18,014 in tuition and fees each year. On average, biology graduates from UW - La Crosse take out $22,610 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $157.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - La Crosse also is in the top 10% of our Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.

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A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Northern Illinois University is a great value for general biology students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, NIU is a public college with a large student population.

NIU undergraduate students pay an average of $14,738 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their Bachelor's Degree, biology majors at NIU accumulate an average of around $27,006 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $160.

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Out of the 135 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the midsize city of Green Bay, UW - Green Bay is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Green Bay are $16,091 a year.

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#6

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, OH

Youngstown State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Youngstown State University is a fairly large public school located in the city of Youngstown.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Youngstown State University are $9,732 per year.

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University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the city of Oshkosh, UW Oshkosh is a public college with a large student population.

UW Oshkosh undergraduate students pay an average of $15,306 in tuition and fees each year. Biology majors at UW Oshkosh take out an average of $23,546 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.

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University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the town of Whitewater, UW - Whitewater is a public school with a large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Whitewater are $16,602 a year. After completing their Bachelor's Degree, biology graduates from UW - Whitewater carry an average student debtload of $26,197. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $256, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, UW - Whitewater also did well on our Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

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Western Illinois University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree general biology programs. WIU is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Macomb.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WIU are $13,297 per year. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $386.

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University of Wisconsin - Platteville did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for general biology students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #10 on the list. UW - Platteville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Platteville.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Platteville are $16,483 a year. After completing their Bachelor's Degree, biology graduates from UW - Platteville carry an average student debtload of $22,377.

UW - Platteville excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

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With a ranking of #11, Purdue University Northwest did quite well on this year’s best value schools for general biology students working on their bachelor’s degree. Purdue Northwest is a moderately-sized public school located in the large suburb of Hammond.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Purdue Northwest are $14,349 per year. After completing their Bachelor's Degree, biology graduates from Purdue Northwest carry an average student debtload of $26,170.

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#12

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, IL

Eastern Illinois University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. EIU is a moderately-sized public school located in the distant town of Charleston.

EIU undergraduate students pay an average of $14,551 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that biology majors at EIU take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $23,561.

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University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Eau Claire is a fairly large public school located in the city of Eau Claire.

UW - Eau Claire undergraduate students pay an average of $17,149 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their Bachelor's Degree, biology majors at UW - Eau Claire accumulate an average of around $21,143 in student debt.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - Eau Claire also is in the top 15% of our Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.

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University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the distant town of Stevens Point, UW - Stevens Point is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - Stevens Point are $17,035 per year. The average amount in student loans that biology majors at UW - Stevens Point take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $24,216. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $221, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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University of Wisconsin - Parkside ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Parkside is a small public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Kenosha.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - Parkside are $15,714 per year. After completing their Bachelor's Degree, biology graduates from UW - Parkside carry an average student debtload of $27,852.

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Grand Valley State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for general biology students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #16 on the list. GVSU is a very large public school located in the suburb of Allendale.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at GVSU are $19,628 per year. On average, biology graduates from GVSU take out $24,650 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $266, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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#17

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI

Western Michigan University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for general biology students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, WMU is a public school with a large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at WMU are $16,768 a year. On average, biology graduates from WMU take out $29,678 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $205.

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University of Wisconsin - Superior came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - Superior is a small public school located in the midsize suburb of Superior.

UW - Superior undergraduate students pay an average of $15,728 in tuition and fees each year.

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With a ranking of #19, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on this year’s best value schools for general biology students working on their bachelor’s degree. University of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at University of Akron Main Campus are $11,880 per year. While working on their Bachelor's Degree, biology majors at University of Akron Main Campus accumulate an average of around $24,598 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $204.

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#20

Chicago State University

Chicago, IL

Chicago State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. CSU is a small public school located in the large city of Chicago.

CSU undergraduate students pay an average of $11,204 in tuition and fees each year.

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#20

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, MI

Eastern Michigan University landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree general biology programs. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan is a public school with a large student population.

Eastern Michigan undergraduate students pay an average of $15,500 in tuition and fees each year. Biology majors at Eastern Michigan take out an average of $27,841 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $126.

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Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great value schools for General Biology students in the Great Lakes Region seeking value that almost earned our Best Value General Biology Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
22 Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI
22 Southern Illinois University Carbondale Carbondale, IL
24 Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI
25 University of Illinois at Springfield Springfield, IL
26 Cleveland State University Cleveland, OH
27 Illinois State University Normal, IL

Best General Biology Colleges by State

Explore the best general biology colleges for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.

State Degrees Awarded
Michigan 2,795
Ohio 3,097
Illinois 2,864
Indiana 1,765
Wisconsin 1,970

General Biology is one of 14 different types of programs to choose from.

Majors Similar to Biology

Related Major Annual Graduates
Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology 14,535
Neurobiology & Neurosciences 11,615
Physiology & Pathology Sciences 8,813
Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology 7,247
Cell Biology & Anatomical Sciences 6,206

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 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 the rest 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.

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