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2023 Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

131 Ranked Colleges
12,616 Degrees Awarded
$14,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 107,165 general biology students received their degree, making the major the 5th most popular in the country. In 2019-2020, general biology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $28,334 and had an average of $23,818 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 12,616 general biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,013 and $25,277 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 131 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to 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 Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Biology in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

1
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Out of the 131 schools in the Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #1 spot on the list. Purdue is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 251 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.

Purdue also made our “Best General Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $13,377 for Great Lakes Region Biology students with aid per year to attend Purdue.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Biology at Purdue

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 491 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best General Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $17,234 for Great Lakes Region Biology students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Biology at University of Wisconsin - Madison

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. UW - La Crosse is a public institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 264 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - La Crosse did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best General Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is $14,654 for great lakes region biology students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, 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 86%.

Read full report on General Biology at UW - La Crosse

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school handed out 193 degrees to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region biology students with aid list, IUPUI has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best General Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend IUPUI is $12,416 for Great Lakes Region Biology students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Biology at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

5
IU Bloomington crest
Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana

Out of the 131 schools in the Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #5 spot on the list. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 291 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.

IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best General Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Bloomington is $14,619 for Great Lakes Region Biology students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 IU Bloomington

6

With a ranking of #6, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 466 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.

UIC also took the #18 spot in our “Best General Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $13,214 for great lakes region biology students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 Illinois at Chicago General Biology Report

7
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school handed out 484 degrees to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.

Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best General Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State is $19,058 for Great Lakes Region Biology students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Biology at Michigan State

8

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school awarded 245 diplomas to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best General Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,878 for Great Lakes Region Biology students with aid per year to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Biology at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

9

With a ranking of #9, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 495 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State is $16,845 for great lakes region biology students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, 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 94%.

Read more about General Biology at Ohio State University - Main Campus

10
MCC crest
Mott Community College
Flint, Michigan

Mott Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Mott Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Flint, Michigan. It awarded 81 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend MCC is $6,813 for great lakes region biology students with aid.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about General Biology at Mott Community College

11
GVSU crest
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Grand Valley State University is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 373 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

GVSU also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,356 for Great Lakes Region Biology students with aid per year to attend GVSU.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Grand Valley State University General Biology Report

12

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Whitewater, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s biology degrees to 108 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $14,417 for great lakes region biology students with aid.

Full UW - Whitewater General Biology Report

13

University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. This medium-sized school is located in River Falls, Wisconsin, and it awarded 77 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - River Falls also claimed a top spot on our “Best General Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best General Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $13,844 for Great Lakes Region Biology students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 UW - River Falls General Biology Report

14

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UW Oshkosh is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 99 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is $14,687 for Great Lakes Region Biology students with aid.

Read more about General Biology at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

15

Purdue University Northwest ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Purdue University Northwest is a medium-sized public school situated in Hammond, Indiana. It awarded 71 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University Northwest is $11,384 for great lakes region biology students with aid.

Read full report on General Biology at Purdue University Northwest

16
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 183 degrees to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Oakland University is $13,449 for Great Lakes Region Biology students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 Oakland

17

With a ranking of #17, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UW - Stevens Point is a medium-sized public school situated in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It awarded 92 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,346 for great lakes region biology students with aid per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point.

Read full report on General Biology at UW - Stevens Point

18

With a ranking of #18, University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Kenosha, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s biology degrees to 36 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $11,082 for great lakes region biology students with aid per year to attend UW - Parkside.

The low undergrad 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 UW - Parkside General Biology Report

19

With a ranking of #19, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s biology degrees to 11 students in 2020-2021.

UIUC also made our “Best General Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #25. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $14,321 for Great Lakes Region Biology students with aid.

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 undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UIUC General Biology Report

20
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Muncie, Indiana, and it awarded 141 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Ball State is $14,765 for Great Lakes Region Biology students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Biology at Ball State University

21

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UW - Eau Claire is a public institution located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 110 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $16,051 for great lakes region biology students with aid per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.

Read full report on General Biology at UW - Eau Claire

22

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this large public school handed out 258 diplomas to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.

UC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best General Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UC is $22,415 for great lakes region biology students with aid.

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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UC General Biology Report

23

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is a medium-sized public school situated in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It awarded 39 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UW - Green Bay is $13,092 for great lakes region biology students with aid.

Read more about General Biology at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

24

Youngstown State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Youngstown State University is located in Youngstown, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 112 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Youngstown State University is $12,225 for Great Lakes Region Biology students with aid.

Full Youngstown State University General Biology Report

25
Indiana University - Southeast crest
Indiana University - Southeast
New Albany, Indiana

Indiana University - Southeast did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. Indiana University - Southeast is a small public school situated in New Albany, Indiana. It awarded 39 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Southeast is $11,446 for great lakes region biology students with aid.

Read more about General Biology at Indiana University - Southeast

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