Best Colleges and Universities for Biology Degrees 2025

Badge for BEST FOR BIOLOGY COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

By Dr. Jed Macosko and Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Chloe Dembski

Updated: Nov 19, 2024

The best biology schools 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.

Key Takeaways

Many of the best colleges and universities for biology degrees integrate biology with other disciplines such as bioinformatics, biochemistry, and environmental studies, providing a well-rounded education that prepares students for diverse career paths or advanced studies.
The institutions in our ranking offer extensive research programs and access to state-of-the-art laboratories, enabling students to engage in hands-on experiments and contribute to groundbreaking studies in fields like genetics, microbiology, and environmental science.
The best colleges and universities for biology degrees often include unique fieldwork opportunities in ecosystems like rainforests, coral reefs, or arctic tundras, along with study abroad options that allow students to explore global biodiversity and conservation efforts.

Table of Contents

Best Colleges and Universities for Biology Degrees in 2025

Harvard University
Columbia University
+3
Stanford University
–1
Yale University
–1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
–1
University of Arizona
+6
University of Florida
+4
Wesleyan University
+1
Amherst College
–1
Swarthmore College
–3

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

In 2025, the top ten schools in our ranking of the best colleges and universities for biology degrees saw a considerable amount of change. The University of Arizona gained the most ranking positions as the university has introduced several enhancements to its biology programs to benefit students. The Undergraduate Biology Research Program (UBRP) continues to offer paid, full-time summer research apprenticeships, allowing students to engage in mentored, self-directed research projects that contribute to new scientific knowledge. Participants gain hands-on experience in biological research, develop professional and communication skills, and join a community of like-minded scholars.

Additionally, the university’s Ecology and Evolutionary Biology department provides a comprehensive curriculum that includes opportunities for independent research, fieldwork, and interdisciplinary studies, preparing students for diverse careers in biology.

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 and is one of the most popular degrees for those wishing to work with animals. 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

Featured Programs

The Best Colleges and Universities for Biology Degrees

Career Outlook for Students with Biology Degree

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Biology/Biological Sciences

Degree Level: Bachelor's

Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
Avg. Cost of Degree*: $11,006
Avg. Expenses*: $17,410
Avg. Starting Salary*: $32,126
Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $47,104
Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 12 years
Job Growth: 1.47%
Number of Jobs: 1,457,600
* denotes ‘annually’
** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

Career	Job Growth	Avg. Salary
Natural Sciences Managers	7.49%	$157,740
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists	11.46%	$100,890
Biological Scientists, All Other	5.69%	$91,100
Life Scientists, All Other	6.25%	$86,950
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary	8.32%	$83,920
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	-0.64%	$65,220
Forensic Science Technicians	13.98%	$64,940
Biological Technicians	6.62%	$51,430
Food Science Technicians	7.17%	$49,090
Agricultural Technicians	6.12%	$43,180

Top Industries

Industry	Avg. Salary
Natural Sciences Managers	$157,740
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists	$100,890
Biological Scientists, All Other	$91,100
Life Scientists, All Other	$86,950
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary	$83,920
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$65,220
Forensic Science Technicians	$64,940
Biological Technicians	$51,430
Food Science Technicians	$49,090
Agricultural Technicians	$43,180

Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.

The Best Biology Schools in Your State

Learn More About Biology

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Learn the history of the field of biology from Pre-1900 to today
Explore the the most influential biology programs in the world

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Best Colleges and Universities for Biology Degrees 2025

Key Takeaways

Best Colleges and Universities for Biology Degrees in 2025

2025 Ranking Update

Featured Programs

The Best Colleges and Universities for Biology Degrees

Last Year’s Ranking:

Career Outlook for Biology degree at Harvard University

Career Outlook for Biology degree at Columbia University

Career Outlook for Biology degree at Stanford University

Career Outlook for Biology degree at Yale University

Career Outlook for Biology degree at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Career Outlook for Biology degree at University of Arizona

University of Arizona’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for Biology degree at University of Florida

Career Outlook for Biology degree at Wesleyan University

Career Outlook for Biology degree at Amherst College

Career Outlook for Biology degree at Swarthmore College

Career Outlook for Biology degree at Williams College

Career Outlook for Biology degree at Pomona College

Career Outlook for Biology degree at Kean University

Kean University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Biology degree at West Texas A&M University

West Texas A&M University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for Biology degree at University of Houston–Victoria

University of Houston–Victoria’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for Students with Biology Degree

Biology/Biological Sciences

Degree Level: Bachelor's

Career Salaries

Top Industries

The Best Biology Schools in Your State

Learn More About Biology