Best colleges for Biology in Iowa
Ranked by graduate earnings
Coe College, Grinnell College and William Penn University are the top bachelor's Biology programs in Iowa by graduate earnings. Coe College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,112, College Scorecard. Iowa State University, University of Iowa and University of Northern Iowa award the most Biology degrees in Iowa: 196, 130 and 73 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 40 Iowa colleges offer Biology and award 819 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Biology program, also known as Biology, General, is designed for students interested in the scientific study of life and living organisms. This broad natural science encompasses various fields, focusing on the structure, function,…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coe College Cedar Rapids Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,112 | 28 | 66% | $18,153 | $27,000 |
| 2 | Grinnell College Grinnell Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,170 | 36 | 88% | $14,470 | $17,500 |
| 3 | William Penn University Oskaloosa Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,449 | 23 | 33% | $21,533 | $27,000 |
| 4 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,286 | 73 | 68% | — | $21,500 |
| 5 | University of Iowa Iowa City Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,813 | 130 | 75% | — | $25,512 |
| 6 | Wartburg College Waverly Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,398 | 37 | 64% | $20,228 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Morningside University Sioux City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,620 | 29 | 50% | $22,816 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Iowa State University Ames Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,528 | 196 | 75% | — | $24,614 |
| 9 | Saint Ambrose University Davenport Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,825 | 26 | 61% | $21,680 | $27,000 |
| 10 | Luther College Decorah Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,359 | 23 | 71% | $22,827 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Biology degrees in Iowa
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa State University Ames Public | 196 | $32,528 |
| 2 | University of Iowa Iowa City Public | 130 | $34,813 |
| 3 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public | 73 | $36,286 |
| 4 | Wartburg College Waverly Private not-for-profit | 37 | $34,398 |
| 5 | Grinnell College Grinnell Private not-for-profit | 36 | $37,170 |
| 6 | Morningside University Sioux City Private not-for-profit | 29 | $32,620 |
| 7 | Coe College Cedar Rapids Private not-for-profit | 28 | $41,112 |
| 8 | Saint Ambrose University Davenport Private not-for-profit | 26 | $30,825 |
| 9 | Northwestern College Orange City Private not-for-profit | 25 | Not reported |
| 10 | Luther College Decorah Private not-for-profit | 23 | $29,359 |
ShowHide the other 30 Iowa colleges offering Biology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Penn University | Oskaloosa | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
| Buena Vista University | Storm Lake | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny | Public | 16 |
| University of Dubuque | Dubuque | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Central College | Pella | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Drake University | Des Moines | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Dordt University | Sioux Center | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Simpson College | Indianola | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Clarke University | Dubuque | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Loras College | Dubuque | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Briar Cliff University | Sioux City | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Mount Mercy University | Cedar Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Upper Iowa University | Fayette | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Grand View University | Des Moines | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Des Moines University - Osteopathic Medical Center (Graduate only) | West Des Moines | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Ellsworth Community College | Iowa Falls | Public | 5 |
| Graceland University - Lamoni | Lamoni | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Waldorf University | Forest City | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Marshalltown Community College | Marshalltown | Public | 3 |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College | Sioux City | Public | 3 |
| Eastern Iowa Community College District | Davenport | Public | 2 |
| Hawkeye Community College | Waterloo | Public | 2 |
| Iowa Central Community College | Fort Dodge | Public | 2 |
| Iowa Western Community College | Council Bluffs | Public | 2 |
| Northeast Iowa Community College | Calmar | Public | 2 |
| Indian Hills Community College | Ottumwa | Public | 1 |
| Iowa Lakes Community College | Estherville | Public | 1 |
| Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids | Public | 1 |
| North Iowa Area Community College | Mason City | Public | 1 |
| Southeastern Community College | West Burlington | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Biological Technicians (SOC 19-4021).
Top skills
What Biological Technicians earn in Iowa
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Biology programs in Iowa.
Which Iowa colleges award the most Biology degrees?+
Iowa State University (196 graduates a year), University of Iowa (130 graduates a year) and University of Northern Iowa (73 graduates a year) award the most Biology degrees in Iowa, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 40 Iowa colleges offer Biology.
What is the best college for Biology in Iowa?+
By graduate earnings, Coe College leads among bachelor's Biology programs in Iowa, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,112, College Scorecard. Grinnell College and William Penn University follow. By degrees awarded, Iowa State University is the largest, with 196 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Biology program in Iowa has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Coe College tops the list at $41,112. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Biological Technicians earn in Iowa?+
The average annual wage for Biological Technicians in Iowa is $54,470 (median $48,050), across about 800 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Biology program?+
The Biology program, also known as Biology, General, is designed for students interested in the scientific study of life and living organisms. This broad natural science encompasses various fields, focusing on the structure, function,…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, science, active listening, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Biological Technicians?+
The national job outlook is about +3.5% growth with around 9,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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