Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

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

Find Schools Near

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.

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

Check out the biology bachelor's degree programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.

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 medium-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.

UW - River Falls 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.

Read full report on General Biology at University of Wisconsin - River Falls

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a great value for general biology students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, SIUE is a public college with a fairly large student population.

SIUE undergraduate students pay an average of $11,496 in tuition and fees each 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.

Full General Biology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the 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.

Read full report on General Biology at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Northern Illinois University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value general biology schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the small suburb of Dekalb, NIU is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NIU are $14,738 per 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.

Full General Biology at Northern Illinois University Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the 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.

Full General Biology at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Report

#6

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, OH

Youngstown 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 #6 on the list. Youngstown State University is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Youngstown.

Youngstown State University undergraduate students pay an average of $9,732 in tuition and fees each year.

Full General Biology at Youngstown State University Report

With a ranking of #7, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well on this year’s best value schools for general biology students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the city of Oshkosh, UW Oshkosh is a public college with a fairly 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.

Full General Biology at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Report

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 fairly large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - Whitewater are $16,602 per 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.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - Whitewater also is in the top 20% of our Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.

Read full report on General Biology at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Western Illinois University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. WIU is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Macomb.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at WIU are $13,297 a year. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $386.

Full General Biology at Western Illinois University Report

University of Wisconsin - Platteville came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - Platteville is a medium-sized public school located in the distant 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 also claimed a spot on our Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.

Full General Biology at University of Wisconsin - Platteville Report

Purdue University Northwest came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Purdue Northwest is a medium-sized public school located in the large suburb of Hammond.

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

Read More…

#12

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, IL

Eastern Illinois University landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree general biology programs. EIU is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Charleston.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at EIU are $14,551 per year. The average amount in student loans that biology majors at EIU take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $23,561.

Full General Biology at Eastern Illinois University Report

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire 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 #13 on the list. UW - Eau Claire is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Eau Claire.

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

On top of its placing in our value ranking, UW - Eau Claire also did well on our Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

Read full report on General Biology at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the town of Stevens Point, UW - Stevens Point is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Stevens Point are $17,035 a 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.

Read full report on General Biology at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

University of Wisconsin - Parkside 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 #14 on the list. UW - Parkside is a small public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Kenosha.

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

Full General Biology at University of Wisconsin - Parkside Report

With a ranking of #16, Grand Valley State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for general biology students working on their bachelor’s degree. GVSU is a fairly large public school located in the large 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.

Full General Biology at Grand Valley State University Report

#17

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI

Western Michigan University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree general biology programs. Located in the small city of Kalamazoo, WMU is a public school with a fairly 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.

Full General Biology at Western Michigan University Report

University of Wisconsin - Superior 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 #18 on the list. UW - Superior is a small public school located in the suburb of Superior.

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

Full General Biology at University of Wisconsin - Superior Report

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 fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Akron.

University of Akron Main Campus undergraduate students pay an average of $11,880 in tuition and fees each 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.

Read full report on General Biology at University of Akron Main Campus

#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.

Full General Biology at Chicago State University Report

#20

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, MI

With a ranking of #20, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for general biology students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the large suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Eastern Michigan are $15,500 a 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.

Full General Biology at Eastern Michigan University Report

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.

Featured Schools

Find Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited colleges across the U.S.