Best colleges for Biology in Michigan
Ranked by graduate earnings
Grand Valley State University, Western Michigan University and Hope College are the top bachelor's Biology programs in Michigan by graduate earnings. Grand Valley State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,959, College Scorecard. Michigan State University, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and Grand Valley State University award the most Biology degrees in Michigan: 611, 352 and 245 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 41 Michigan colleges offer Biology and award 2,618 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 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,959 | 245 | 67% | — | $26,748 |
| 2 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,955 | 93 | 58% | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | Hope College Holland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,430 | 39 | 80% | $21,746 | $27,000 |
| 4 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,586 | 79 | 46% | — | $26,000 |
| 5 | Calvin University Grand Rapids Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,996 | 23 | 74% | $22,391 | $19,682 |
| 6 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,497 | 132 | 58% | — | $25,435 |
| 7 | Ferris State University Big Rapids Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,334 | 54 | 47% | — | $26,000 |
| 8 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,888 | 352 | 93% | — | $20,000 |
| 9 | Northern Michigan University Marquette Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,818 | 130 | 52% | — | $25,166 |
| 10 | University of Michigan-Flint Flint Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,707 | 44 | 40% | — | $26,125 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mott Community College Flint Public · Associate degree | $28,480 | 82 | 32% | — | $13,250 |
Colleges awarding the most Biology degrees in Michigan
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 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public | 611 | $26,435 |
| 2 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public | 352 | $26,888 |
| 3 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public | 245 | $40,959 |
| 4 | University of Detroit Mercy Detroit Private not-for-profit | 191 | $19,882 |
| 5 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public | 132 | $27,497 |
| 6 | Northern Michigan University Marquette Public | 130 | $26,818 |
| 7 | Wayne State University Detroit Public | 112 | $21,716 |
| 8 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public | 93 | $35,955 |
| 9 | University of Michigan-Dearborn Dearborn Public | 84 | $20,671 |
| 10 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public | 79 | $32,586 |
ShowHide the other 31 Michigan colleges offering Biology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mott Community College | Flint | Public | 82 |
| Kalamazoo College | Kalamazoo | Private not-for-profit | 58 |
| Ferris State University | Big Rapids | Public | 54 |
| University of Michigan-Flint | Flint | Public | 44 |
| Hope College | Holland | Private not-for-profit | 39 |
| Albion College | Albion | Private not-for-profit | 34 |
| Hillsdale College | Hillsdale | Private not-for-profit | 31 |
| Henry Ford College | Dearborn | Public | 25 |
| Adrian College | Adrian | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Lake Superior State University | Sault Ste Marie | Public | 24 |
| Calvin University | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
| Michigan Technological University | Houghton | Public | 18 |
| Alma College | Alma | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Siena Heights University | Adrian | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Andrews University | Berrien Springs | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Concordia University Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Madonna University | Livonia | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Aquinas College | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Cornerstone University | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| The University of Olivet | Olivet | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Saginaw Valley State University | University Center | Public | 8 |
| Southwestern Michigan College | Dowagiac | Public | 8 |
| Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant | Public | 7 |
| Lansing Community College | Lansing | Public | 7 |
| Gogebic Community College | Ironwood | Public | 6 |
| Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (Graduate only) | Kalamazoo | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Alpena Community College | Alpena | Public | 3 |
| Rochester Christian University | Rochester Hills | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Lake Michigan College | Benton Harbor | Public | 1 |
| Montcalm Community College | Sidney | Public | 1 |
| Spring Arbor University | Spring Arbor | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Biological Technicians (SOC 19-4021).
Top skills
What Biological Technicians earn in Michigan
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Biology programs in Michigan.
Which Michigan colleges award the most Biology degrees?+
Michigan State University (611 graduates a year), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (352 graduates a year) and Grand Valley State University (245 graduates a year) award the most Biology degrees in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 41 Michigan colleges offer Biology.
What is the best college for Biology in Michigan?+
By graduate earnings, Grand Valley State University leads among bachelor's Biology programs in Michigan, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,959, College Scorecard. Western Michigan University and Hope College follow. By degrees awarded, Michigan State University is the largest, with 611 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Biology program in Michigan has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Grand Valley State University tops the list at $40,959. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Biological Technicians earn in Michigan?+
The average annual wage for Biological Technicians in Michigan is $52,300 (median $51,070), across about 1,160 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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