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Best Value Biological & Physical Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Best Value Biological & Physical Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

33 Colleges
$12,748 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$27,149 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Biological & Physical Science School for You

Out of all the majors we analyze each year, biological and physical science was ranked #38 in the country. In fact 30,075 degrees and certificates were handed out in 2020-2021.

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. 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 assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Value Biological & Physical Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 33 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which programs offered the best value experiences for biological science students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

2023 Best Value Biological & Physical Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Value Biological & Physical Science Colleges.

Top 10 Best Biological & Physical Science Schools

$5,940 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named Southwestern Illinois College the best value school in the Great Lakes Region for biological and physical science students. Located in the suburb of Belleville, SWIC is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SWIC are $5,940 per year. On average, biological science graduates from SWIC take out $7,698 in student loans while working on their degree.

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$9,516 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Elgin Community College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Biological & Physical Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the medium-sized city of Elgin, ECC is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

ECC undergraduate students pay an average of $9,516 in tuition and fees each year. On average, biological science graduates from ECC take out $7,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

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$6,846 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 33 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Highland Community College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the distant town of Freeport, Highland Community College is a public college with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Highland Community College are $6,846 a year.

Full Biological & Physical Science at Highland Community College Report

#4

Waubonsee Community College

Sugar Grove, IL
$10,076 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Waubonsee Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Biological & Physical Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Waubonsee is a medium-sized public school located in the rural area of Sugar Grove.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Waubonsee are $10,076 per year. The average amount in student loans that biological science majors at Waubonsee take out is $7,395.

Read full report on Biological & Physical Science at Waubonsee Community College

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend William Rainey Harper College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Biological & Physical Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the large suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a public school with a large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Harper College are $11,682 per year. Biological Science majors at Harper College take out an average of $8,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Harper College also claimed a spot on our Best Biological & Physical Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.

Full Biological & Physical Science at William Rainey Harper College Report

$8,190 Average Tuition & Fees

John Wood Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value biological and physical science programs. Located in the rural area of Quincy, John Wood Community College is a public school with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at John Wood Community College are $8,190 a year. The average amount in student loans that biological science majors at John Wood Community College take out is $9,250.

Full Biological & Physical Science at John Wood Community College Report

$14,430 Average Tuition & Fees

City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value biological and physical science programs. Located in the city of Chicago, Richard J Daley College is a public school with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Richard J Daley College are $14,430 a year. On average, biological science graduates from Richard J Daley College take out $6,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

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$9,334 Average Tuition & Fees

Moraine Valley Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value biological and physical science programs. Located in the suburb of Palos Hills, MVCC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at MVCC are $9,334 a year. After completing their degree, biological science graduates from MVCC carry an average student debtload of $7,500.

Read full report on Biological & Physical Science at Moraine Valley Community College

$10,068 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #9, Lincoln Land Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for biological and physical science students. LLCC is a small public school located in the midsize city of Springfield.

LLCC undergraduate students pay an average of $10,068 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, biological science graduates from LLCC carry an average student debtload of $8,215.

Read full report on Biological & Physical Science at Lincoln Land Community College

#10

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, IL
$13,410 Average Tuition & Fees

Joliet Junior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for biological and physical science students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Joliet Junior College are $13,410 per year. After completing their degree, biological science graduates from Joliet Junior College carry an average student debtload of $7,738.

Full Biological & Physical Science at Joliet Junior College Report

Best Biological & Physical Science Colleges by State

Explore the best biological and physical science schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.

State Degrees Awarded
Michigan 87
Ohio 9
Illinois 4,791
Indiana 118
Wisconsin 19

One of 44 majors within the area of study, biological and physical science has other similar majors worth exploring.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Other Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies 34,975
Interdisciplinary Studies 9,074
International Studies 7,368
Nutrition Science 5,330
Behavioral Science 4,169

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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