2026 Best Value General Biology Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value General Biology certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 1781 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value General Biology Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat Youngstown State University this year in the United States. Based in Youngstown, OH, Youngstown State University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,926 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,286 for out-of-state students. Youngstown State University General Biology students take on a median of $19,000 in debt. Median earnings reach $41,544 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Youngstown State University admits about 84% of applicants. See the full Youngstown State University profile
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #2 on this year's best-value General Biology ranking in the United States. Based in Fort Wayne, IN, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,532, while out-of-state students pay about $22,887. Graduates carry a median of $24,696 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,872. Set against $24,696 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne admits about 84% of applicants. Read the full report on Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #3 on this year's best-value General Biology ranking in the United States. Set in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Typical General Biology student debt is $20,500. Graduates go on to earn a median of $73,792 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison has an acceptance rate of 45%. See the full University Of Wisconsin Madison profile
A rank of #4 makes Florida Atlantic University one of the best values in the United States. Based in Boca Raton, FL, Florida Atlantic University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $17,537 to complete their General Biology program here. Florida Atlantic University alumni report median earnings of $56,746 a decade after entry. Set against $17,537 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Florida Atlantic University report
Arizona State University came in at #5 on this year's best-value General Biology ranking in the United States. Located in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Typical General Biology student debt is $21,250. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $62,668. Set against $21,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 90% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Arizona State University profile
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in College Station, TX, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Students borrow a median of $17,943 to complete their General Biology program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $72,097 ten years after entry. Set against $17,943 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted. See the full Texas A And M University College Station profile
American River College landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about American River College
Brandeis University landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Brandeis University
Bryan College Dayton placed #9 among the best-value General Biology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Bryan College Dayton
Idaho State University came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. More on Idaho State University
Illinois Institute Of Technology landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Illinois Institute Of Technology
Jacksonville University came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Jacksonville University report
John Brown University came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. See the full John Brown University profile
Meridian Technology Center landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Meridian Technology Center
Paris Junior College landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Paris Junior College
Saint Mary Of The Woods College placed #16 among the best-value General Biology schools in the United States. Read more about Saint Mary Of The Woods College
University Of Detroit Mercy came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Detroit Mercy
Baldwin Wallace College came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Baldwin Wallace College
Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. See the full Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies profile
Desales University placed #20 among the best-value General Biology schools in the United States. Get the full Desales University report
Edgewood College
Edgewood College offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. See the full Edgewood College profile
Mesa State College landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Mesa State College report
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Worthington Scranton landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Pennsylvania State University Penn State Worthington Scranton
San Jose State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Biology schools. Get the full San Jose State University report
South Plains College placed #25 among the best-value General Biology schools in the United States. More on South Plains College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value General Biology Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
University Of Colorado Denver ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Biology schools. Read the full report on University Of Colorado Denver
Wayne State College landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Wayne State College profile
Ithaca College
Ithaca College placed #28 among the best-value General Biology schools in the United States. Read more about Ithaca College
Kent State University At Stark ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Biology schools. More on Kent State University At Stark
Saint Josephs College New York placed #30 among the best-value General Biology schools in the United States. Get the full Saint Josephs College New York report
Southern Adventist University ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Biology schools. Read the full report on Southern Adventist University
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
University Of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Biology schools. More on University Of St Thomas Minnesota
Wingate University offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. See the full Wingate University profile
Cuny Queensborough Community College came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Cuny Queensborough Community College
Dominican College Of Blauvelt ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Biology schools. More on Dominican College Of Blauvelt
James Madison University offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Read more about James Madison University
Lee University
Lee University placed #38 among the best-value General Biology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Lee University
Los Angeles City College came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Los Angeles City College
Mount St Marys College came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Mount St Marys College report
Pacific Northwest University Of Health Sciences came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. More on Pacific Northwest University Of Health Sciences
University Of Sacred Heart placed #42 among the best-value General Biology schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Sacred Heart
Walsh University
Walsh University came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. See the full Walsh University profile
Bethel University Minnesota came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Bethel University Minnesota
California Institute Of Technology placed #45 among the best-value General Biology schools in the United States. Get the full California Institute Of Technology report
Kenyon College
Kenyon College placed #46 among the best-value General Biology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Kenyon College
Ohio Northern University ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Biology schools. More on Ohio Northern University
Schreiner University came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Schreiner University report
University Of Nevada Las Vegas ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Biology schools. Read more about University Of Nevada Las Vegas
University Of Phoenix Arizona placed #50 among the best-value General Biology schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Phoenix Arizona report
Related General Biology Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value General Biology Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value General Biology Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Biology Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value General Biology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Biology Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value General Biology Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 · 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).
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