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2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

92 Ranked Colleges
6,017 Degrees Awarded
$10,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 102,043 general biology students received their degree, making the major the 5th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, general biology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $28,233 and had an average of $23,964 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 6,702 general biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,984 and $23,545 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 6,017 general biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 92 colleges that offered a degree in general biology. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general biology programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general biology program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Biology (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washington University in St Louis. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 115 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $0-$30k list, WUSTL has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $5,273 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend WUSTL.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full WUSTL General Biology Report

#2

Carleton College

Northfield, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Carleton College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Northfield, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 61 degrees to qualified bachelors’s biology students in 2019-2020.

Carleton also took the #5 spot in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Carleton College is $9,579 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about General Biology at Carleton

#3

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Out of the 92 schools in the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large public school awarded 359 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s biology students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $7,266 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full UMN Twin Cities General Biology Report

Out of the 92 schools in the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Morris landed the #4 spot on the list. UMN Morris is a small school located in Morris, Minnesota that handed out 62 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Morris is $4,230 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full UMN Morris General Biology Report

Out of the 92 schools in the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Missouri University of Science and Technology landed the #5 spot on the list. Missouri University of Science and Technology is located in Rolla, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 56 bachelors’s biology degrees to qualified students.

Missouri University of Science and Technology not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology is $10,755 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Biology at Missouri University of Science and Technology

#6

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri

Truman State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Truman State University is a small school located in Kirksville, Missouri that handed out 97 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Truman State is $7,564 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Biology at Truman State

University of Minnesota - Duluth ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a fairly large school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 143 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $7,443 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UMN Duluth.

The low student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Duluth General Biology Report

#8

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota

St Olaf College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. St Olaf College is a small school located in Northfield, Minnesota that handed out 114 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Olaf did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend St. Olaf is $12,459 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Biology at St. Olaf

Iowa State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s biology degrees to 190 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa State, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State is $10,054 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Biology at Iowa State

#10

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UNI is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 90 bachelors’s biology degrees to qualified students.

UNI also took the #14 spot in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,757 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Biology at University of Northern Iowa

#11

Grinnell College

Grinnell, Iowa

Grinnell College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Grinnell, Iowa. It awarded 41 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

Grinnell did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Grinnell College is $11,945 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Biology at Grinnell College

With a ranking of #12, North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Fargo, North Dakota that handed out 124 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

North Dakota State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University is $11,524 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full North Dakota State University - Main Campus General Biology Report

#13

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this fairly large public school handed out 71 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s biology students in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,688 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend St. Cloud State University.

Read more about General Biology at Saint Cloud State University

#14

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Winona State University is a public institution located in Winona, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 79 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Winona State, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,381 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Winona State University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Biology at Winona State

With a ranking of #15, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this large public school handed out 189 degrees to qualified bachelors’s biology students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Mizzou has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - Columbia is $10,940 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full Mizzou General Biology Report

Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Mankato, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s biology degrees to 102 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Minnesota State Mankato, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State Mankato is $11,057 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Biology at Minnesota State University - Mankato

#17

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

University of Missouri - St Louis ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s biology degrees to 72 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,401 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Missouri - St Louis.

Read more about General Biology at University of Missouri - St Louis

University of Nebraska - Lincoln ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is a large school located in Lincoln, Nebraska that handed out 110 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNL has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,216 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Nebraska - Lincoln General Biology Report

#19

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s biology degrees to 123 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Iowa has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $12,975 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read full report on General Biology at University of Iowa

With a ranking of #20, Northwest Missouri State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Maryville, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 48 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s biology students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Northwest Missouri State University is $9,990 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Biology at Northwest

Southwest Minnesota State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. Southwest Minnesota State University is located in Marshall, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 bachelors’s biology degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Southwest Minnesota State University is $10,801 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Biology at Southwest Minnesota State University

#22

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota

Bemidji State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Bemidji State University is a small school located in Bemidji, Minnesota that handed out 42 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Bemidji State University is $10,632 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Bemidji State University General Biology Report

#23

Macalester College

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Macalester College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 43 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

Macalester not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,158 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Macalester College.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Macalester General Biology Report

#24

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UND is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It awarded 80 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,092 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Biology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UND.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Biology at UND

University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. University of Nebraska at Omaha is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 117 bachelors’s biology degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska at Omaha is $10,490 for plains states region bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Biology at University of Nebraska at Omaha

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Notes and References

References

  • 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 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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