Minnesota · Biology

Best colleges for Biology in Minnesota

Ranked by graduate earnings

Saint Cloud State University, Metropolitan State University and St Catherine University are the top bachelor's Biology programs in Minnesota by graduate earnings. Saint Cloud State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,166, College Scorecard. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of Minnesota-Duluth and Minnesota State University - Mankato award the most Biology degrees in Minnesota: 318, 129 and 86 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 45 Minnesota colleges offer Biology and award 1,502 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,…

Institutions
45
offering CIP 26.01
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,502
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$37,924
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
25
College Scorecard
Median net price
$21,441
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
55%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Biological Technicians
$53,270
BLS OEWS May 2025

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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud Public · Bachelor's degree
$44,1666440%—$24,450
2Metropolitan State University
Saint Paul Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,1283144%—$28,619
3St Catherine University
Saint Paul Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$40,9372461%$21,042$27,000
4University of Minnesota-Morris
Morris Public · Bachelor's degree
$40,4152863%—$18,500
5Winona State University
Winona Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,6664657%—$22,665
6Bethel University
Saint Paul Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$37,9242371%$25,225$23,552
7Bemidji State University
Bemidji Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,4694248%—$25,494
8Hamline University
Saint Paul Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$37,3822660%$20,981$27,000
9Minnesota State University - Mankato
Mankato Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,2168654%—$26,000
10St Olaf College
Northfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$36,4297084%$18,124$24,500

Colleges awarding the most Biology degrees in Minnesota

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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis Public
318$36,136
2University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth Public
129$31,891
3Minnesota State University - Mankato
Mankato Public
86$37,216
4University of St Thomas
Saint Paul Private not-for-profit
77$36,072
5St Olaf College
Northfield Private not-for-profit
70$36,429
6Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud Public
64$44,166
7Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter Private not-for-profit
61$31,877
8Carleton College
Northfield Private not-for-profit
56$30,726
9College of Saint Benedict
Saint Joseph Private not-for-profit
47$35,800
10Winona State University
Winona Public
46$38,666
Show the other 35 Minnesota colleges offering Biology
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Macalester CollegeSaint PaulPrivate not-for-profit43
Bemidji State UniversityBemidjiPublic42
Concordia College at MoorheadMoorheadPrivate not-for-profit36
Minnesota State University MoorheadMoorheadPublic36
The College of Saint ScholasticaDuluthPrivate not-for-profit35
Metropolitan State UniversitySaint PaulPublic31
University of Minnesota-MorrisMorrisPublic28
Hamline UniversitySaint PaulPrivate not-for-profit26
St Catherine UniversitySaint PaulPrivate not-for-profit24
Augsburg UniversityMinneapolisPrivate not-for-profit23
Bethel UniversitySaint PaulPrivate not-for-profit23
Concordia University - Saint PaulSaint PaulPrivate not-for-profit21
Normandale Community CollegeBloomingtonPublic19
Saint Johns UniversityCollegevillePrivate not-for-profit17
Saint Mary's University of MinnesotaWinonaPrivate not-for-profit16
Saint Paul CollegeSaint PaulPublic13
Anoka-Ramsey Community CollegeCoon RapidsPublic12
Bethany Lutheran CollegeMankatoPrivate not-for-profit11
University of Northwestern-St PaulSaint PaulPrivate not-for-profit11
Rochester Community and Technical CollegeRochesterPublic11
Century CollegeWhite Bear LakePublic9
North Hennepin Community CollegeBrooklyn ParkPublic8
Minneapolis Community and Technical CollegeMinneapolisPublic7
Southwest Minnesota State UniversityMarshallPublic7
Minnesota State Community and Technical CollegeFergus FallsPublic6
St Cloud Technical and Community CollegeSaint CloudPublic5
Crown CollegeSaint BonifaciusPrivate not-for-profit5
Lake Superior CollegeDuluthPublic4
Alexandria Technical & Community CollegeAlexandriaPublic3
Central Lakes College - BrainerdBrainerdPublic3
Inver Hills Community CollegeInver Grove HeightsPublic3
South Central CollegeNorth MankatoPublic3
University of Minnesota-CrookstonCrookstonPublic3
Riverland Community CollegeAustinPublic2
North Central UniversityMinneapolisPrivate not-for-profit2

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Biological Technicians (SOC 19-4021).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+3.5%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~9,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$52,000
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingScienceActive ListeningActive LearningWriting

What Biological Technicians earn in Minnesota

Jobs in Minnesota
1,400
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$53,270
median $48,130
Best-paying metro
$59,760
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI

Related careers

Biological Technicians
$53,270 avg · 1,400 jobs
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
$109,120 avg · 780 jobs
Biological Scientists, All Other
$80,210 avg · 750 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Biology programs in Minnesota.

Which Minnesota colleges award the most Biology degrees?+

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (318 graduates a year), University of Minnesota-Duluth (129 graduates a year) and Minnesota State University - Mankato (86 graduates a year) award the most Biology degrees in Minnesota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 45 Minnesota colleges offer Biology.

What is the best college for Biology in Minnesota?+

By graduate earnings, Saint Cloud State University leads among bachelor's Biology programs in Minnesota, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,166, College Scorecard. Metropolitan State University and St Catherine University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is the largest, with 318 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Biology program in Minnesota has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Saint Cloud State University tops the list at $44,166. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Biological Technicians earn in Minnesota?+

The average annual wage for Biological Technicians in Minnesota is $53,270 (median $48,130), across about 1,400 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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