Is a research university right for me?–

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students. Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you. If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel. Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well. Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Is a liberal arts college right for me?–

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom). Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships, but also more pleasurable walks across campus. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Is an online college right for me?–

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degress you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no disctinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whehter you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college. Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain. Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands balancing work and life, or becuase the online colleges afford them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are aynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc. The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find, well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges for a Biology Degree

By Dr. Jed Macosko and James Barham

Published: Oct 28, 2021
Updated: Sep 8, 2023

The best biology liberal arts colleges are those with rich histories of influence, proven through the work produced by the program’s faculty and alumni. Beyond demonstrating scholarly impact in the field, the best biology degree programs maximize your opportunities to interact with outstanding biology faculty.

Top 10 Liberal Arts Colleges for Biology Degrees

Wesleyan University
Amherst College
United States Military Academy
Swarthmore College
Oberlin College
Williams College
Smith College
Wellesley College
Bryn Mawr College
Vassar College

Reed College 44%
Bryn Mawr College 39%
Kenyon College 37%
Oberlin College 34%
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo 33%
Smith College 30%
Vassar College 20%
Wesleyan University 19%
Davidson College 18%
Carleton College 18%

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo 21 to 1
Reed College 9 to 1
Colorado College 9 to 1
Kenyon College 9 to 1
Colgate University 9 to 1
Davidson College 9 to 1
Oberlin College 9 to 1
Barnard College 9 to 1
Carleton College 8 to 1
Bryn Mawr College 8 to 1

Kenyon College $63,310
Vassar College $62,870
Reed College $62,730
Colorado College $62,070
Wesleyan University $62,049
Colgate University $61,966
Haverford College $61,210
Amherst College $61,150
Wellesley College $60,752
Harvey Mudd College $60,703

Claremont McKenna College $64,288
Vassar College $61,940
Colgate University $61,594
Wesleyan University $61,449
Williams College $59,728
Smith College $55,830
Bryn Mawr College $48,328
Colorado College $34,300
Oberlin College $29,692
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo $7,176

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Davidson College
Claremont McKenna College
Harvey Mudd College
Colorado College
Kenyon College
Carleton College
United States Air Force Academy
Middlebury College
Colgate University

Pomona College 7%
Swarthmore College 8%
Amherst College 9%
Williams College 9%
Bowdoin College 9%
Harvey Mudd College 10%
Claremont McKenna College 11%
Barnard College 11%
United States Military Academy 11%
United States Air Force Academy 12%

United States Air Force Academy 6 to 1
Pomona College 6 to 1
Williams College 6 to 1
Amherst College 7 to 1
Swarthmore College 7 to 1
Smith College 7 to 1
Wellesley College 7 to 1
United States Military Academy 7 to 1
Carleton College 8 to 1
Bryn Mawr College 8 to 1

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo $5,742
Davidson College $55,200
Swarthmore College $56,056
Smith College $56,114
Bryn Mawr College $56,320
Pomona College $56,686
Claremont McKenna College $58,111
Bowdoin College $58,322
Williams College $59,660
Barnard College $59,687

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo $7,176
Oberlin College $29,692
Colorado College $34,300
Bryn Mawr College $48,328
Smith College $55,830
Williams College $59,728
Wesleyan University $61,449
Colgate University $61,594
Vassar College $61,940
Claremont McKenna College $64,288

Key Takeaways

An undergraduate biology program at a small liberal arts college offers several advantages, such as personalized attention and better opportunities to enroll in a master’s degree at bigger universities.
Biology students should expect an easier admission process at liberal arts colleges. However, the biology department of a liberal arts college is not as competitive as those found in more prominent universities.
Biology encompasses a broad field of science. As a biology major, you’ll study different fields of biology, including marine biology, organismal biology, cellular and molecular biology, evolutionary biology, developmental biology, and general biology.

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Searching for Outstanding Colleges for Biology Majors

Biology is one of the most common majors for students planning to attend medical school in the future. Biology majors often become biochemists, biologists, physician assistants, research scientists, environmental scientists, botanists, and various other careers after graduation.

Most biology programs at small liberal arts institutions aim to teach students how to question what is still unknown in addition to studying what is already known in the discipline. They want students to “do” biology rather than merely learn it.

Benefits of Studying Biology in a Liberal Arts College

To be a great man of science, one must ask impertinent questions to have a pertinent answer. Liberal arts colleges do just that, encouraging students to ask difficult and sometimes impertinent questions.

Graduates of liberal arts colleges are twice as likely to earn a PhD than those at larger college and university graduates. Graduates of liberal arts colleges also have an impressive record in the nation’s scientific community.

There are three significant benefits of studying biology in liberal arts colleges:

Liberal arts colleges enable students to comprehend scientific issues and procedures.

The next generation of able scientists needs a background in biology, the social sciences, and the humanities. In doing so, they will be able to advance their field of study and understand when such advances are timely and in the broader interest of the world. Likewise, they’ll know how to manage the advances in science and political, legal, and economic systems to ensure that biology is employed for the common good.

Biology majors at liberal arts colleges complete a broad general education curriculum to help them see science in a larger context.

Liberal arts colleges develop students’ critical thinking skills for applying the sciences to real-world issues.

To become a great man of biology, one must be able to apply research to real-world problems. And doing so requires critical thinking that develops through a liberal arts education. It’s essential to have both scientific communication skills and critical thinking skills.

An integral part of critical and creative thinking is learning to ask the appropriate, probing questions. Equally important is having the courage to do so.

Liberal arts colleges provide students with personalized attention and a greater hands-on learning experience.

Aside from having small class sizes, liberal arts college professors see their job as a combination of teaching and scholarship. Faculty professors rather than graduate assistants are in charge of supervising laboratory courses.

Unlike larger research universities, liberal arts biology faculty members allow their undergraduate students to help with their research projects. Larger-scale universities only grant this opportunity to graduate students.

Additionally, professors at liberal arts colleges often help their students enroll in graduate school.

3-2 Programs

Liberal arts colleges may not have the same research facilities as Harvard University, California Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Duke University, or Yale University, but these small colleges offer 3-2 programs. The Biology 3+2 program gives students a unique chance to earn their bachelor’s in a liberal arts college and master’s degrees in more prominent schools in just five years. These programs allow students to study their field with an additional humanities background while using facilities in larger universities.

A few of the best liberal arts colleges that offer 3-2 program in biology include:

Amherst College
Bowdoin College
Bucknell University
Carleton College
Davidson College
Harvey Mudd College
Smith College
Swarthmore College
Union College
Williams College

A bachelor’s degree in biology is an excellent starting point for a career in zoology, ecology, botany, and a host of other fascinating STEM fields. As a biology major, you’ll study the full spectrum of life sciences. Your biology degree may incorporate subjects such as evolutionary biology, biochemistry, and microbiology, as well as foundational courses in subjects like human anatomy and biodiversity. The best schools for biology are those which are regionally accredited, which offer a full array of biology concentrations, and which give you the chance to work with the best and most influential professors and classmates.

Degree popularity: Biology bachelor’s degrees are the 6th most popular undergraduate degrees across all student demographics. It’s slightly more popular among women, and ranks the 4th most popular degree among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, according to the number of degree earners reported by the National Center for Educational Statistics

Frequently Asked Questions About Biology Bachelor’s Degrees

Once you’ve declared you major in biology, the common requirements include:

General Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Biology and/or Biochemistry
Physics
Calculus
Statistics

Biology majors are also expected to engage in original research, working at on-campus laboratories or research facilities, as well as in the field. They will work closely with faculty, laboratory support staff, and teaching fellows as they explore areas of scientific interest. Most colleges include a senior capstone project based on original research, presented via poster, workshop, keynote, or other presentation.

Biology is a good major for anyone interested in life, living things, and what makes them tick at the macro and micro levels. Whether you have an interest in human anatomy, cell biology, neuroscience, or animal physiology, a degree in biology can prepare you for work in fields as diverse as marine biology, neuroscience, medicine, and more.

Biology is a popular major because it can provide a pathway into countless fields and career opportunities. If you’re looking for a well-paying and secure job, a biology degree is a great place to start. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities in the life, physical, and social sciences will grow at a rate of 5 percent between now and 2029. This is faster than the average rate for all occupations. Likewise, the median annual wage for life, physical, and social science occupations was $68,160 in 2019, as compared to a median wage for all occupations of $39,810. Whether studying humans, animals, plants, insects, microscopic cells of bacteria, or even pondering the existence of life in space, a biology degree can provide you with the knowledge, skills, and credentials to work in a wide range of professional settings.

Biology is a hard major for many because the language of science seems so unfamiliar. Biology is not as math intensive as other fields such as chemistry, but you will need to learn the basics of calculus and statistics. However, for students passionate about the study of biology and where they hope it leads them in their careers, successfully completing a major in biology is achievable.

Obviously, having a propensity in the hard sciences is helpful. This isn’t to say that you need special background knowledge. Just like any other college degree, a planned path to a major in biology should have you adequately prepared.

As a biology major, you will hone your research and observation skills, develop strategies for collection and evaluation of data, and acquire the language of science so you can effectively present your research.

Once you’ve declared your major in biology, you will likely be required to complete a set of core courses in STEM-related subject areas. While your concentration will give you a chance to choose from a wide range of highly-specialized biology electives, there are a number of common courses that most biology majors will be required to take, including:

Biostatistics
Biochemistry
Human Anatomy
Microbiology
Marine Biology
Genetics
Evolutionary Biology
Plant Biology
Molecular Biology

Biology Degree jobs include Medical Lab Technician, Forensic Science Technician, Zoologist, Environmental Scientist, and Chemist. Students often study biology as preparation for a professional program (pre-med, pre-veterinary, etc.) That doesn’t mean that you have to get an advanced degree to begin using your biology degree. A bachelor’s degree in biology can prepare you for many jobs in medicine, zoology, and chemistry. Here are some of the professions you could explore:

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you. If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).
Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships, but also more pleasurable walks across campus. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degress you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no disctinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whehter you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.
Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands balancing work and life, or becuase the online colleges afford them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are aynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.
The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

If you think a research university may be a better fit for you, see our ranking of the best research universities for a bachelor’s in biology.

How do we determine the best biology liberal arts colleges?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why we rank the best colleges and universities based on what we call “Influence”.

The influence of a college or university is based on the schools’s top academic influencers related to the discipline in this ranking. We track the influence of faculty and alumni affiliate with these school counting not only the publications and citations of the school’s affiliated people, but we also consider the overall web presence of the faculty and alumni. The greater the citations, authority of web links, web searches, and page views, the greater the individuals’s influence. Those combined make up the departments’s influence in the field of study. We believe tracking the academic influence of the people affiliated with a school is the best indicator of academic excellence.

If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and misused performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is more insulated from manipulation, and more reflective of real-world educational outcomes.