by our College Data Analytics TeamWe've pulled together some essential information you should know about the program, including how many students graduate each year, the ethnic diversity of these students, average starting salaries, and more. We've also included details on how Iowa State ranks compared to other colleges offering a major in biology.
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Iowa State is in the top 10% of the country for biology. More specifically it was ranked #68 out of 901 schools by College Factual. It is also ranked #2 in Iowa.
| Ranking Type | Rank |
|---|---|
| Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools | 52 |
| Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools | 57 |
| Best General Biology Schools | 68 |
| Best General Biology Graduate Degree Schools | 75 |
During the 2021-2022 academic year, Iowa State University handed out 193 bachelor's degrees in general biology. This is an increase of 21% over the previous year when 160 degrees were handed out.
In 2022, 36 students received their master’s degree in biology from Iowa State. This makes it the #38 most popular school for biology master’s degree candidates in the country.
In addition, 2 students received their doctoral degrees in biology in 2022, making the school the #145 most popular school in the United States for this category of students.
Biology majors who earn their bachelor's degree from Iowa State go on to jobs where they make a median salary of $32,528 a year. This is higher than $32,337, which is the national median for all biology bachelor's degree recipients.
While getting their bachelor's degree at Iowa State, biology students borrow a median amount of $32,150 in student loans. This is higher than the the typical median of $27,650 for all biology majors across the country.
The typical student loan payment of a bachelor's degree student from the biology program at Iowa State is $297 per month.
During the 2022-2023 academic year, part-time undergraduate students at Iowa State paid an average of $1,091 per credit hour if they came to the school from out-of-state. In-state students paid a discounted rate of $376 per credit hour. The following table shows the average full-time tuition and fees for undergraduates.
| In State | Out of State | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $8,982 | $26,168 |
| Fees | $1,515 | $1,515 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,091 | $1,091 |
| On Campus Room and Board | $9,726 | $9,726 |
| On Campus Other Expenses | $2,890 | $2,890 |
Learn more about Iowa State tuition and fees.
The biology program at Iowa State awarded 193 bachelor's degrees in 2021-2022. About 33% of these degrees went to men with the other 67% going to women.
The majority of bachelor's degree recipients in this major at Iowa State are white. In the most recent graduating class for which data is available, 70% of students fell into this category.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor's in biology.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 11 |
| Black or African American | 11 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 18 |
| White | 136 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 7 |
| Other Races | 10 |
Online degrees for the Iowa State biology bachelor’s degree program are not available at this time. To see if the school offers distance learning options in other areas, visit the Iowa State Online Learning page.
Graduates of the master's biology program at Iowa State make a median salary of $28,875. This is less than what their typical peers from other schools make. Their median salary is $43,317.
Of the 35 students who graduated with a Master’s in biology from Iowa State in 2022, 31% were men and 69% were women.
The majority of master's degree recipients in this major at Iowa State are white. In the most recent graduating class for which data is available, 83% of students fell into this category.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Iowa State University with a master's in biology.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 2 |
| Black or African American | 2 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1 |
| White | 29 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 0 |
| Other Races | 1 |
Take a look at the following statistics related to the make-up of the biology majors at Iowa State University.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology | 130 |
| Genetics | 53 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology | 47 |
| Microbiological Sciences & Immunology | 38 |
| Biomathematics & Bioinformatics | 17 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.