by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2025, College Factual analyzed 131 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best General Biology Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 10,572 bachelor's degrees in general biology during the 2022-2023 academic year.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
Your choice of general biology for getting your bachelor's degree school matters. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. When choosing a school we recommend considering some of the following factors:
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving their bachelor's degree from the school. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue their bachelor's degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for general biology students working on their bachelor's degree.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best General Biology Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.
The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing a bachelor's degree in general biology. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
It is hard to beat Ohio State University - Main Campus if you wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in general biology. Ohio State is a fairly large public university located in the city of Columbus.
Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the biology program state that they receive average early career earnings of $32,356.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from Ohio State University - Main Campus
Michigan State University is a good decision for students interested in a bachelor's degree in general biology. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the biology program report average early career income of $26,435.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from Michigan State University
University of Wisconsin - Madison is a great decision for students pursuing a bachelor's degree in general biology. Located in the large city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public university with a very large student population.
Those general biology students who get their bachelor's degree from University of Wisconsin - Madison make $3,321 more than the standard biology grad.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from University of Wisconsin - Madison
Every student pursuing a degree in a bachelor's degree in general biology needs to look into University of Chicago. Located in the large city of Chicago, UChicago is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.
Those general biology students who get their bachelor's degree from University of Chicago earn $2,798 more than the standard biology graduate.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from University of Chicago
Northwestern is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Evanston.More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from Northwestern University
Purdue is a fairly large public university located in the small city of West Lafayette.
Those general biology students who get their bachelor's degree from Purdue University - Main Campus receive $7,668 more than the average biology student.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from Purdue University - Main Campus
UC is a fairly large public university located in the city of Cincinnati.
After graduating, biology bachelor's recipients usually earn about $34,092 in their early careers.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from University of Cincinnati - Main Campus
UIC is a very large public university located in the large city of Chicago.
Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the biology program state that they receive average early career earnings of $28,768.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from University of Illinois at Chicago
Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola Chicago is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.
Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the biology program make an average of $31,964 in their early career salary.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from Loyola University Chicago
U-M is a very large public university located in the city of Ann Arbor.
Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the biology program make around $26,888 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
IU Bloomington is a fairly large public university located in the city of Bloomington.
Bachelor's recipients from the general biology degree program at Indiana University - Bloomington make $4,023 above the typical college grad in this field when they enter the workforce.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from Indiana University - Bloomington
Located in the town of Allendale, GVSU is a public university with a fairly large student population.
General Biology bachelor's degree recipients from Grand Valley State University receive an earnings boost of about $8,482 above the average earnings of general biology graduates.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from Grand Valley State University
Located in the large city of Milwaukee, Marquette is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.
After graduation, biology bachelor's recipients generally earn around $28,555 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from Marquette University
Located in the small city of La Crosse, UW - La Crosse is a public university with a large student population.
Those general biology students who get their bachelor's degree from University of Wisconsin - La Crosse make $4,346 more than the typical biology student.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Miami University - Oxford is a large public university located in the fringe town of Oxford.
Bachelor's recipients from the general biology program at Miami University - Oxford make $5,645 more than the standard graduate in this field shortly after graduation.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from Miami University - Oxford
Located in the large suburb of Notre Dame, Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.
After graduating, biology bachelor's recipients typically make an average of $32,876 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from University of Notre Dame
Located in the midsize suburb of Normal, Illinois State is a public university with a very large student population.
Those general biology students who get their bachelor's degree from Illinois State University make $3,860 more than the typical biology graduate.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from Illinois State University
Located in the city of Kalamazoo, WMU is a public university with a large student population.
Those general biology students who get their bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University receive $3,478 more than the average biology student.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from Western Michigan University
Located in the large city of Indianapolis, IUPUI is a public university with a very large student population.
General Biology bachelor's degree recipients from Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis receive an earnings boost of about $3,866 above the average earnings of general biology majors.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
Case Western is a large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Cleveland.
Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the biology program earn an average of $26,254 in their early career salary.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from Case Western Reserve University
Kent State is a very large public university located in the large suburb of Kent.
Soon after graduation, biology bachelor's recipients generally earn an average of $30,118 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from Kent State University at Kent
UDayton is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Dayton.
After graduation, biology bachelor's recipients generally make an average of $26,431 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from University of Dayton
Ball State is a very large public university located in the city of Muncie.
After graduation, biology bachelor's recipients usually make around $34,248 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from Ball State University
Augustana is a small private not-for-profit college located in the city of Rock Island.
Soon after graduating, biology bachelor's recipients generally make about $32,844 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from Augustana College
BGSU is a fairly large public university located in the fringe town of Bowling Green.
Soon after graduating, biology bachelor's recipients generally earn around $30,861 in their early careers.
More information about a bachelor’s in general biology from Bowling Green State University - Main Campus
Here are some additional great schools for General Biology students in the Great Lakes Region that almost earned our Best General Biology Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire | Eau Claire, WI |
| 28 | University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI |
| 29 | Northern Illinois University | Dekalb, IL |
| 30 | Oakland University | Rochester Hills, MI |
| 31 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Edwardsville, IL |
| 32 | University of Wisconsin - Whitewater | Whitewater, WI |
| 33 | University of Toledo | Toledo, OH |
| 34 | University of Akron Main Campus | Akron, OH |
| 35 | University of Wisconsin - Platteville | Platteville, WI |
| 36 | Denison University | Granville, OH |
| 37 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh | Oshkosh, WI |
| 38 | Bradley University | Peoria, IL |
| 39 | Saint Mary’s College | Notre Dame, IN |
| 40 | Oberlin College | Oberlin, OH |
| 41 | University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point | Stevens Point, WI |
| 42 | University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit, MI |
| 43 | Carroll University | Waukesha, WI |
Explore the best general biology schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes Region .
General Biology is one of 14 different types of Biological & Biomedical Sciences programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biology Studies | 9,748 |
| General Biomedical Sciences | 824 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Neurobiology & Neurosciences | 2,551 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology | 1,980 |
| Zoology | 758 |
| Physiology & Pathology Sciences | 663 |
| Cell Biology & Anatomical Sciences | 442 |
| Biological & Biomedical Sciences (Other) | 395 |
| Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology | 304 |
| Microbiological Sciences & Immunology | 263 |
| Genetics | 259 |
| Botany/Plant Biology | 100 |