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2022 Best Value Colleges for General Biology (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

75 Ranked Colleges
11,994 Degrees Awarded
$7,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

General Biology is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 5th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 102,043 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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 Southwest region, there were 11,994 general biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $26,762 and $21,482 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 75 colleges that offer a degree in general biology. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general biology programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the general biology program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank General Biology Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Biology (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public institution located in Edinburg, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 561 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Rio Grande Valley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best General Biology Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is $2,993 for southwest region biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 UT Rio Grande Valley General Biology Report

#2

Rice University

Houston, Texas

Out of the 75 schools in the Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Rice University landed the #2 spot on the list. Rice is located in Houston, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.

Rice also made our “Best General Biology Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend Rice University is $3,437 for Southwest Region Biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. 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 student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on General Biology at Rice University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Austin Community College District. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Austin, Texas, this large public school handed out 68 diplomas to qualified ’s biology students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Austin Community College District is $3,134 for southwest region biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Austin Community College District General Biology Report

Out of the 75 schools in the Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas A&M International University landed the #4 spot on the list. Texas A&M International University is located in Laredo, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 146 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M International University is $2,261 for Southwest Region Biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Biology at Texas A&M International University

#5

El Paso Community College

El Paso, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend El Paso Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. El Paso, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s biology degrees to 138 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,978 for Southwest Region Biology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend El Paso Community College.

Full El Paso Community College General Biology Report

University of North Texas ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Denton, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s biology degrees to 395 students in 2019-2020.

UNT also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Biology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Texas is $8,521 for Southwest Region Biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 University of North Texas

#7

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Central New Mexico Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. CNM is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 31 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for CNM is $2,604 for southwest region biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full CNM General Biology Report

Arizona State University - Tempe ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 858 ’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe also took the #5 spot in our “Best General Biology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $7,044 for southwest region biology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Arizona State University - Tempe.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Arizona State University - Tempe General Biology Report

With a ranking of #9, Texas Woman’s University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texas Woman’s University is a fairly large school located in Denton, Texas that handed out 115 ’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend TWU is $6,706 for southwest region biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about General Biology at Texas Woman’s University

The University of Texas at San Antonio came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UTSA is a large public school situated in San Antonio, Texas. It awarded 296 ’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

UTSA also took the #23 spot in our “Best General Biology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $10,516 for southwest region biology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Full The University of Texas at San Antonio General Biology Report

#11

Texas A&M University - College Station

College Station, Texas

Texas A&M University - College Station did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Texas A&M College Station is located in College Station, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 911 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.

Texas A&M College Station also took the #2 spot in our “Best General Biology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M University - College Station is $11,454 for Southwest Region 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on General Biology at Texas A&M University - College Station

The University of Texas at Austin did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. UT Austin is a large school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 629 ’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Austin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best General Biology Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at Austin is $12,203 for southwest region biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Full UT Austin General Biology Report

#13

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

With a ranking of #13, Texas Tech University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school handed out 183 diplomas to qualified ’s biology students in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech also made our “Best General Biology Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $12,317 for southwest region biology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas Tech.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on General Biology at Texas Tech University

Southeastern Oklahoma State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a public institution located in Durant, Oklahoma. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 25 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $6,102 for southwest region biology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

Read full report on General Biology at Southeastern Oklahoma State University

#15

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UH is a large school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 378 ’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region biology students whose families make $0-$30k list, UH has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best General Biology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Houston is $10,203 for southwest region biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full UH General Biology Report

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, this large public school handed out 100 diplomas to qualified ’s biology students in 2019-2020.

OSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best General Biology Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is $8,669 for southwest region biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Oklahoma State University - Main Campus General Biology Report

Texas A&M University - San Antonio came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Texas A&M San Antonio is located in San Antonio, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 63 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M San Antonio is $9,372 for Southwest Region Biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Texas A&M San Antonio General Biology Report

#18

Northwest Vista College

San Antonio, Texas

Northwest Vista College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northwest Vista College is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Northwest Vista College is $4,355 for Southwest Region Biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about General Biology at Northwest Vista College

University of Houston - Clear Lake did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. UH Clear Lake is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 105 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UH Clear Lake did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best General Biology Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Houston - Clear Lake is $4,517 for Southwest Region Biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Biology at UH Clear Lake

#20

East Central University

Ada, Oklahoma

East Central University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Ada, Oklahoma, this small public school handed out 47 diplomas to qualified ’s biology students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend ECU is $7,787 for Southwest Region Biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Biology at East Central University

#21

San Antonio College

San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio College landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s biology degrees to 39 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for San Antonio College is $5,183 for Southwest Region Biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full San Antonio College General Biology Report

#22

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

With a ranking of #22, University of Arizona did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Arizona is a public institution located in Tucson, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 110 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,562 for southwest region biology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Arizona.

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 full report on General Biology at University of Arizona

#23

MSU Texas

Wichita Falls, Texas

MSU Texas landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. MSU Texas is located in Wichita Falls, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 35 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for MSU Texas is $7,703 for southwest region biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Biology at MSU Texas

#24

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in San Marcos, Texas, and it awarded 195 ’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region biology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Texas State has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best General Biology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $11,125 for southwest region biology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas State.

Full Texas State University General Biology Report

The University of Texas at Dallas ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Richardson, Texas, and it awarded 321 ’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Dallas also made our “Best General Biology Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at Dallas is $10,857 for southwest region biology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 4.9% 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 The University of Texas at Dallas General Biology Report

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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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