Best Biological Science Teacher, Postsecondary programs in Iowa, ranked by enrollment
Teach courses in biological sciences.
41 schools in Iowa run programs that feed this job, graduating 1,518 people a year. The job pays a median of $78,060 in Iowa across about 540 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Iowa that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
36 programs in Iowa that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Iowa (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Iowa page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 26.0101In Iowa → | 732 | 48.2% | 39 | $32,152 | $25,000 |
| 2 | CIP 26.0202In Iowa → | 180 | 11.9% | 11 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 3 | CIP 26.1501In Iowa → | 89 | 5.9% | 9 | $31,687 | $22,936 |
| 4 | CIP 26.0102In Iowa → | 87 | 5.7% | 6 | $32,152 | $25,000 |
| 5 | CIP 26.1301In Iowa → | 86 | 5.7% | 2 | $29,460 | $23,480 |
| 6 | CIP 26.0502In Iowa → | 67 | 4.4% | 2 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 7 | CIP 26.0801In Iowa → | 46 | 3.0% | 2 | $31,800 | $21,424 |
| 8 | CIP 26.0299In Iowa → | 34 | 2.2% | 1 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 9 | CIP 26.0210In Iowa → | 32 | 2.1% | 2 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 10 | CIP 13.1316In Iowa → | 22 | 1.4% | 4 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 11 | CIP 26.0908In Iowa → | 20 | 1.3% | 4 | $31,146 | $23,384 |
| 12 | CIP 26.0407In Iowa → | 14 | 0.9% | 1 | $35,393 | $19,961 |
| 13 | CIP 26.1503In Iowa → | 14 | 0.9% | 1 | $31,687 | $22,936 |
| 14 | CIP 26.1310In Iowa → | 13 | 0.9% | 2 | $29,460 | $23,480 |
| 15 | CIP 30.1901In Iowa → | 11 | 0.7% | 1 | $30,508 | $24,586 |
| 16 | CIP 26.0204In Iowa → | 10 | 0.7% | 2 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 17 | CIP 26.1004In Iowa → | 10 | 0.7% | 1 | $39,202 | $18,000 |
| 18 | CIP 26.0403In Iowa → | 5 | 0.3% | 1 | $35,393 | $19,961 |
| 19 | CIP 26.0799In Iowa → | 5 | 0.3% | 1 | $28,266 | $24,393 |
| 20 | CIP 26.0911In Iowa → | 5 | 0.3% | 1 | $31,146 | $23,384 |
| 21 | CIP 26.0507In Iowa → | 4 | 0.3% | 2 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 22 | CIP 26.1201In Iowa → | 4 | 0.3% | 1 | $49,023 | $21,309 |
| 23 | CIP 26.0305In Iowa → | 3 | 0.2% | 1 | $33,009 | $21,975 |
| 24 | CIP 26.0307In Iowa → | 3 | 0.2% | 1 | $33,009 | $21,975 |
| 25 | CIP 26.0406In Iowa → | 3 | 0.2% | 1 | $35,393 | $19,961 |
| 26 | CIP 26.1001In Iowa → | 3 | 0.2% | 1 | $39,202 | $18,000 |
| 27 | CIP 26.0209In Iowa → | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 28 | CIP 26.0707In Iowa → | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | $28,266 | $24,393 |
| 29 | CIP 26.0902In Iowa → | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | $31,146 | $23,384 |
| 30 | CIP 26.0910In Iowa → | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | $31,146 | $23,384 |
| 31 | CIP 26.1305In Iowa → | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | $29,460 | $23,480 |
| 32 | CIP 30.1001In Iowa → | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | $43,343 | $22,125 |
| 33 | CIP 13.1322In Iowa → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 34 | CIP 26.0702In Iowa → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $28,266 | $24,393 |
| 35 | CIP 26.0807In Iowa → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $31,800 | $21,424 |
| 36 | CIP 26.9999In Iowa → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $31,278 | $23,000 |
Top 25 schools in Iowa
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 17 of the 41 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa State University Ames, IA Public · 16 feeder programs | 408 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $32,528 | 75% | — | 89% |
| 2 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IA Public · 18 feeder programs | 363 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $34,813 | 75% | — | 84% |
| 3 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA Public · 4 feeder programs | 91 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $36,286 | 68% | — | 93% |
| 4 | Grinnell College Grinnell, IA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 76 | Biochemistry | $38,598 | 88% | $14,470 | 15% |
| 5 | Drake University Des Moines, IA Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 65 | Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Other | — | 74% | $28,855 | 64% |
| 6 | Wartburg College Waverly, IA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 57 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $34,398 | 64% | $20,228 | 76% |
| 7 | Cornell College Mount Vernon, IA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 39 | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | $39,164 | 62% | $23,073 | 80% |
| 8 | Saint Ambrose University Davenport, IA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 35 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $30,825 | 61% | $21,680 | 77% |
| 9 | Morningside University Sioux City, IA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 32 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $32,620 | 50% | $22,816 | 71% |
| 10 | Coe College Cedar Rapids, IA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 31 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $41,112 | 66% | $18,153 | 64% |
| 11 | Luther College Decorah, IA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 31 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $29,359 | 71% | $22,827 | 72% |
| 12 | Northwestern College Orange City, IA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 29 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 66% | $22,419 | 80% |
| 13 | Central College Pella, IA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 26 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $26,933 | 66% | $19,732 | 86% |
| 14 | Simpson College Indianola, IA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 25 | Biochemistry | — | 63% | $20,710 | 86% |
| 15 | Loras College Dubuque, IA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 24 | Biochemistry | — | 68% | $19,227 | 100% |
| 16 | William Penn University Oskaloosa, IA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 23 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $36,449 | 33% | $21,533 | 52% |
| 17 | Buena Vista University Storm Lake, IA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 17 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $30,682 | 62% | $17,609 | 78% |
| 18 | University of Dubuque Dubuque, IA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 17 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $31,779 | 40% | $21,324 | 89% |
| 19 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA Public · 1 feeder programs | 16 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 39% | — | — |
| 20 | Briar Cliff University Sioux City, IA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 15 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 48% | $21,731 | — |
| 21 | Grand View University Des Moines, IA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 13 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $43,237 | 54% | $20,840 | 99% |
| 22 | Dordt University Sioux Center, IA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 12 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 70% | $24,569 | 68% |
| 23 | Des Moines University - Osteopathic Medical Center West Des Moines, IA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 11 | Biomedical Sciences, General | — | — | — | — |
| 24 | Clarke University Dubuque, IA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 10 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 56% | $21,417 | 72% |
| 25 | Mount Mercy University Cedar Rapids, IA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 10 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $32,264 | 58% | $23,054 | 83% |
All 41 schools in Iowa
Every school in Iowa with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State University | Ames | Public | 408 | 16 |
| University of Iowa | Iowa City | Public | 363 | 18 |
| University of Northern Iowa | Cedar Falls | Public | 91 | 4 |
| Grinnell College | Grinnell | Private not-for-profit | 76 | 3 |
| Drake University | Des Moines | Private not-for-profit | 65 | 5 |
| Wartburg College | Waverly | Private not-for-profit | 57 | 3 |
| Cornell College | Mount Vernon | Private not-for-profit | 39 | 2 |
| Saint Ambrose University | Davenport | Private not-for-profit | 35 | 3 |
| Morningside University | Sioux City | Private not-for-profit | 32 | 4 |
| Coe College | Cedar Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 31 | 3 |
| Luther College | Decorah | Private not-for-profit | 31 | 2 |
| Northwestern College | Orange City | Private not-for-profit | 29 | 4 |
| Central College | Pella | Private not-for-profit | 26 | 3 |
| Simpson College | Indianola | Private not-for-profit | 25 | 3 |
| Loras College | Dubuque | Private not-for-profit | 24 | 3 |
What biological science teachers, postsecondary earn in Iowa
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $84,620. Iowa pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Iowa
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary page.
How to become a Biological Science Teacher, Postsecondary
Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Iowa
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 25 majors mapped to Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary24 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 13.1316Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
- 13.1322Biology Teacher Education
- 26.0101Biology/Biological Sciences, General
- 26.0102Biomedical Sciences, General
- 26.0202Biochemistry
- 26.0203Biophysics
- 26.0204Molecular Biology
- 26.0205Molecular Biochemistry
- 26.0206Molecular Biophysics
- 26.0207Structural Biology
- 26.0208Photobiology(no graduates reported)
- 26.0209Radiation Biology/Radiobiology
- 26.0210Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- 26.0299Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Other
- 26.0301Botany/Plant Biology
- 26.0305Plant Pathology/Phytopathology
- 26.0307Plant Physiology
- 26.0399Botany/Plant Biology, Other
- 26.0401Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology
- 26.0403Anatomy
- 26.0404Developmental Biology and Embryology
- 26.0406Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology
- 26.0407Cell Biology and Anatomy
- 26.0499Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Other
- 26.0502Microbiology, General
Common questions
Answers for people weighing biological science teachers, postsecondary programs in Iowa.
What degree do you need to become a Biological Science Teacher, Postsecondary?+
Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Biology/Biological Sciences, General, which awarded 732 degrees in Iowa in 2024-25, 48.2% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Biological Science Teacher, Postsecondary?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 36 programs to this occupation. The largest are Biology, Biochemistry, Neurobiology and Neurosciences, Ecology, plus 12 more. Together they graduate about 1,518 people a year in Iowa.
How much do biological science teachers, postsecondary earn in Iowa?+
The median is $78,060 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 7.8% below the U.S. median of $84,620. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for biological science teachers, postsecondary growing?+
BLS projects a +7.3% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, faster than average, with roughly 5,400 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Iowa?+
41 institutions in Iowa reported graduates from at least one of the 36 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do biological science teachers, postsecondary work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Professor, Biology Professor, Biology Instructor, Associate Professor among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 25-1042.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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