Missouri · Biology

Best colleges for Biology in Missouri

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Missouri-Kansas City, Northwest Missouri State University and University of Missouri-Columbia are the top bachelor's Biology programs in Missouri by graduate earnings. University of Missouri-Kansas City leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,483, College Scorecard. University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Missouri-Kansas City and Missouri State University - Springfield award the most Biology degrees in Missouri: 278, 191 and 159 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 46 Missouri colleges offer Biology and award 1,773 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
46
offering CIP 26.01
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,773
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$35,467
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
23
College Scorecard
Median net price
$20,482
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
50%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Biological Technicians
$56,470
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
1University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City Public · Bachelor's degree
$40,48319155%—$21,500
2Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,9833054%—$26,000
3University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,73227875%—$23,188
4Missouri State University - Springfield
Springfield Public · Bachelor's degree
$34,71715958%—$25,552
5Saint Louis University
Saint Louis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$34,6209280%$24,886$25,000
6University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg Public · Bachelor's degree
$34,1025454%—$24,250
7Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rolla Public · Bachelor's degree
$33,7614164%—$25,250
8Drury University
Springfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$33,6992662%$20,482$26,688
9Webster University
Saint Louis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$32,7572664%$25,090$20,679
10University of Missouri-St Louis
Saint Louis Public · Bachelor's degree
$32,4008057%—$27,000

Colleges awarding the most Biology degrees in Missouri

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 Missouri-Columbia
Columbia Public
278$36,732
2University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City Public
191$40,483
3Missouri State University - Springfield
Springfield Public
159$34,717
4Washington University in St Louis
St. Louis Private not-for-profit
111$24,925
5Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau Public
93$31,420
6Saint Louis University
Saint Louis Private not-for-profit
92$34,620
7University of Missouri-St Louis
Saint Louis Public
80$32,400
8Missouri Southern State University
Joplin Public
58$31,149
9University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg Public
54$34,102
10Truman State University
Kirksville Public
45$31,435
Show the other 36 Missouri colleges offering Biology
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Logan University (Online)ChesterfieldPrivate not-for-profit80
Kansas City University (Graduate only)Kansas CityPrivate not-for-profit62
Missouri University of Science and TechnologyRollaPublic41
Maryville University of Saint LouisSaint LouisPrivate not-for-profit38
Northwest Missouri State UniversityMaryvillePublic30
Drury UniversitySpringfieldPrivate not-for-profit26
Webster UniversitySaint LouisPrivate not-for-profit26
Rockhurst UniversityKansas CityPrivate not-for-profit25
Jefferson CollegeHillsboroPublic21
Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts and SciencesFayettePrivate not-for-profit19
Harris-Stowe State UniversitySaint LouisPublic19
Lindenwood UniversitySaint CharlesPrivate not-for-profit18
Missouri Western State UniversitySaint JosephPublic18
St Charles Community CollegeCottlevillePublic18
Columbia CollegeColumbiaPrivate not-for-profit15
Ozarks Technical Community CollegeSpringfieldPublic14
Park UniversityParkvillePrivate not-for-profit14
Metropolitan Community College - Kansas CityKansas CityPublic13
Missouri Valley CollegeMarshallPrivate not-for-profit12
Lincoln UniversityJefferson CityPublic11
Culver-Stockton CollegeCantonPrivate not-for-profit10
Southwest Baptist UniversityBolivarPrivate not-for-profit10
Avila UniversityKansas CityPrivate not-for-profit9
Missouri Baptist UniversitySaint LouisPrivate not-for-profit9
William Jewell CollegeLibertyPrivate not-for-profit8
William Woods UniversityFultonPrivate not-for-profit7
Moberly Area Community CollegeMoberlyPublic6
Stephens CollegeColumbiaPrivate not-for-profit5
Cottey CollegeNevadaPrivate not-for-profit4
Evangel UniversitySpringfieldPrivate not-for-profit4
Hannibal-LaGrange UniversityHannibalPrivate not-for-profit4
University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. LouisSaint LouisPrivate not-for-profit4
Central Methodist University - College of Graduate and Extended StudiesFayettePrivate not-for-profit4
Drury University - College of Continuing Professional StudiesSpringfieldPrivate not-for-profit4
Westminster CollegeFultonPrivate not-for-profit3
College of the OzarksPoint LookoutPrivate not-for-profit1

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 Missouri

Jobs in Missouri
620
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$56,470
median $50,640
Best-paying metro
$61,500
Kansas City, MO-KS

Related careers

Biological Scientists, All Other
$75,210 avg · 1,120 jobs
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
$104,480 avg · 1,060 jobs
Biological Technicians
$56,470 avg · 620 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Biology programs in Missouri.

Which Missouri colleges award the most Biology degrees?+

University of Missouri-Columbia (278 graduates a year), University of Missouri-Kansas City (191 graduates a year) and Missouri State University - Springfield (159 graduates a year) award the most Biology degrees in Missouri, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 46 Missouri colleges offer Biology.

What is the best college for Biology in Missouri?+

By graduate earnings, University of Missouri-Kansas City leads among bachelor's Biology programs in Missouri, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,483, College Scorecard. Northwest Missouri State University and University of Missouri-Columbia follow. By degrees awarded, University of Missouri-Columbia is the largest, with 278 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Missouri-Kansas City tops the list at $40,483. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Biological Technicians earn in Missouri?+

The average annual wage for Biological Technicians in Missouri is $56,470 (median $50,640), across about 620 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.

Explore every U.S. college in one conversation

Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.

Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card