by our College Data Analytics TeamGeneral Biology programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general biology programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 112 schools to find the best for general biology students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general biology education in Pennsylvania.
Our analysis ranked Pennsylvania State University Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in general biology. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 326 general biology degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. More information about a degree in general biology from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Lafayette College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best general biology schools. Set in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Lafayette College graduates 88% of students within six years. Lafayette College awarded about 40 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $41,885 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,000. Get the full general biology details for Lafayette College
University Of Pennsylvania is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general biology, ranking #3. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 181 general biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $31,055 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,047 to complete this degree. Get the full general biology details for University Of Pennsylvania
Students looking for a strong general biology program will find one at Lehigh University, which ranked #4. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Lehigh University graduates 88% of students within six years. Lehigh University awarded about 66 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Lehigh University earn around $45,695 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,128. Read more about the general biology program at Lehigh University
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general biology, landing the #5 spot this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Chester. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 137 general biology degrees were awarded at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. See the full general biology program report for West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #6 spot for general biology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 28 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Carnegie Mellon University earn around $89,327 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,506. Read more about the general biology program at Carnegie Mellon University
Thomas Jefferson University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best general biology schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 general biology degrees were awarded at Thomas Jefferson University in the most recent year. General Biology graduates of Thomas Jefferson University earn a median of $64,243 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $32,256. Get the full general biology details for Thomas Jefferson University
Haverford College earned the #8 position for general biology this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Haverford. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 33 general biology degrees were awarded at Haverford College in the most recent year. Get the full general biology details for Haverford College
Duquesne University landed the #9 spot for general biology this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. There were roughly 97 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Duquesne University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Duquesne University generally make around $36,643. Duquesne University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full general biology details for Duquesne University
Swarthmore College came in at #10 for general biology this year. Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Swarthmore. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 22 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Swarthmore College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Swarthmore College earn around $41,122 in the first couple years of their career. Swarthmore College graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. See the full general biology program report for Swarthmore College
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania landed the #11 spot for general biology this year. This large public university is located in the town of Bloomsburg. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 81 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Read more about the general biology program at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania
Villanova University landed the #12 spot for general biology this year. Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 105 general biology degrees were awarded at Villanova University in the most recent year. General Biology graduates of Villanova University earn a median of $31,818 early in their careers. Villanova University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full general biology program report for Villanova University
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #13 among the best general biology schools. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 370 general biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $34,074 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general biology from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Temple University placed #14 among the best general biology schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Temple University awarded about 257 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $35,101. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Get the full general biology details for Temple University
Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine earned the #15 position for general biology this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine awarded about 48 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $70,065 in their early career. More information about a degree in general biology from Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine
Franklin And Marshall College landed the #16 spot for general biology this year. Set in the city of Lancaster, Franklin And Marshall College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Franklin And Marshall College graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Franklin And Marshall College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $37,950 in their early career. Franklin And Marshall College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Read more about the general biology program at Franklin And Marshall College
Bucknell University landed the #17 spot for general biology this year. Set in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Bucknell University graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 67 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Bucknell University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $38,765 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,672 to complete this degree. Get the full general biology details for Bucknell University
Pennsylvania Western University landed the #18 spot for general biology this year. Pennsylvania Western University is a large public school located in the town of California. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 68 general biology degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania Western University in the most recent year. See the full general biology program report for Pennsylvania Western University
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best general biology schools. Set in the suburb of Middletown, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 26% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 41 general biology degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg in the most recent year. See the full general biology program report for Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg
Dickinson College earned the #20 position for general biology this year. Set in the city of Carlisle, Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 29 general biology degrees were awarded at Dickinson College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Dickinson College generally make around $23,097. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000. Get the full general biology details for Dickinson College
Arcadia University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best general biology schools. Located in the suburb of Glenside, Arcadia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 66 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Arcadia University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Arcadia University earn around $40,110 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full general biology program report for Arcadia University
Drexel University placed #22 among the best general biology schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 180 general biology degrees were awarded at Drexel University in the most recent year. General Biology graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $44,671 early in their careers. Drexel University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the general biology program at Drexel University
Gettysburg College came in at #23 for general biology this year. Set in the town of Gettysburg, Gettysburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 22 general biology degrees were awarded at Gettysburg College in the most recent year. General Biology graduates of Gettysburg College earn a median of $43,376 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,816 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general biology from Gettysburg College
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College came in at #24 for general biology this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Erie. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College graduates 44% of students within six years. About 39 general biology degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College in the most recent year. See the full general biology program report for Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College
Messiah College came in at #25 for general biology this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 16 general biology degrees were awarded at Messiah College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Messiah College generally make around $48,957. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the general biology program at Messiah College
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general biology education:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 112 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.