Find Affordable College Courses

What Do You Want to Study?

Best Value General Biology Schools in Iowa

2023 Best Value General Biology Schools in Iowa

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

13 Colleges
$35,186 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$28,942 Avg Salary

Finding the Best General Biology School for You

General Biology is one of the most popular subjects to study in Iowa. With 805 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, it ranked 10th out of all the majors we track in the state.

It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value General Biology Schools in Iowa ranking. This report analyzed 13 schools in Iowa to see which ones offered the best value programs for biology students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. 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.

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

Top 10 Best General Biology Schools

#1

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA
$9,053 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named University of Northern Iowa the best value school in Iowa for general biology students. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, UNI is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at UNI are $9,053 a year. On average, biology graduates from UNI take out $24,400 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $161, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

UNI did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our Best General Biology Schools in Iowa list.

Read full report on General Biology at University of Northern Iowa

Request Information
#2

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA
$9,942 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Iowa. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value General Biology Schools in Iowa list. Located in the city of Iowa City, Iowa is a public college with a very large student population.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Iowa are $9,942 per year. The average amount in student loans that biology majors at Iowa take out is $26,050. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $285, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Iowa also is in the top 20% of our Best General Biology Schools in Iowa ranking.

Full General Biology at University of Iowa Report

Request Information
$9,634 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent programs at Iowa State University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best general biology schools in Iowa. Iowa State is a very large public school located in the city of Ames.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Iowa State are $9,634 a year. While working on their degree, biology majors at Iowa State accumulate an average of around $24,325 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $200, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Iowa State is ranked #4 for overall quality for biology in Iowa.

Full General Biology at Iowa State University Report

Request Information
#4

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, IA
$33,609 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Upper Iowa University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value General Biology Schools in Iowa list. Located in the remote area of Fayette, UIU is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

UIU undergraduate students pay an average of $33,609 in in-state tuition and fees each year. Biology majors at UIU take out an average of $25,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on General Biology at Upper Iowa University

Request Information
#5

Grand View University

Des Moines, IA
$30,954 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Grand View University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value General Biology Schools in Iowa list. Grand View University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Des Moines.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Grand View University are $30,954 per year. After completing their degree, biology graduates from Grand View University carry an average student debtload of $28,000.

Full General Biology at Grand View University Report

Request Information
#6

Morningside College

Sioux City, IA
$35,270 Average Tuition & Fees

Morningside College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for general biology students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the small city of Sioux City, Morningside is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Morningside are $35,270 a year. The average amount in student loans that biology majors at Morningside take out is $27,000.

Full General Biology at Morningside College Report

Request Information
#7

Northwestern College

Orange City, IA
$33,590 Average Tuition & Fees

Northwestern College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Biology Schools in Iowa ranking. Located in the town of Orange City, NWC is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

NWC undergraduate students pay an average of $33,590 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

NWC not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #1 on our Best General Biology Schools in Iowa list.

Full General Biology at Northwestern College Report

Request Information
#8

Luther College

Decorah, IA
$46,760 Average Tuition & Fees

Luther College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Biology Schools in Iowa ranking. Luther is a small private not-for-profit school located in the remote town of Decorah.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Luther are $46,760 per year. Biology majors at Luther take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on General Biology at Luther College

Request Information
#9

Cornell College

Mount Vernon, IA
$47,726 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #9, Cornell College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for general biology students. Located in the fringe town of Mount Vernon, Cornell College is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Cornell College undergraduate students pay an average of $47,726 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

Read full report on General Biology at Cornell College

Request Information
#10

Grinnell College

Grinnell, IA
$58,648 Average Tuition & Fees

Grinnell College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value general biology programs. Grinnell is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Grinnell.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Grinnell are $58,648 a year. While working on their degree, biology majors at Grinnell accumulate an average of around $17,093 in student debt.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Grinnell is ranked #2 for overall quality for biology in Iowa.

Full General Biology at Grinnell College Report

Request Information

Best Value General Biology Colleges in the Plains States Region

Explore all the Best Value General Biology Colleges in the Plains States Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Missouri 2,000
Minnesota 1,745
Kansas 693
Nebraska 757
North Dakota 289
South Dakota 347

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

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 13 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.

Find Schools Near You

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