Best colleges for Biology in North Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
Meredith College, East Carolina University and North Carolina State University at Raleigh are the top bachelor's Biology programs in North Carolina by graduate earnings. Meredith College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,182, College Scorecard. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University at Raleigh and University of North Carolina at Charlotte award the most Biology degrees in North Carolina: 617, 425 and 364 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 50 North Carolina colleges offer Biology and award 3,658 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 | Meredith College Raleigh Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,182 | 53 | 70% | $19,552 | $27,000 |
| 2 | East Carolina University Greenville Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,992 | 268 | 63% | — | $26,000 |
| 3 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,157 | 425 | 85% | — | $21,500 |
| 4 | Campbell University Buies Creek Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,579 | 36 | 61% | $23,331 | $27,000 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,094 | 364 | 69% | — | $26,000 |
| 6 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,471 | 617 | 91% | — | $15,100 |
| 7 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,925 | 182 | 71% | — | $22,125 |
| 8 | Elon University Elon Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,683 | 45 | 84% | $33,688 | $24,125 |
| 9 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,922 | 225 | 56% | — | $26,914 |
| 10 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,660 | 120 | 57% | — | $28,358 |
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 | Davidson College Davidson Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $39,602 | 77 | 91% | $16,628 | $19,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Biology degrees in North Carolina
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 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public | 617 | $33,471 |
| 2 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public | 425 | $36,157 |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public | 364 | $34,094 |
| 4 | East Carolina University Greenville Public | 268 | $38,992 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public | 225 | $31,922 |
| 6 | Duke University Durham Private not-for-profit | 203 | $30,939 |
| 7 | Appalachian State University Boone Public | 197 | $29,946 |
| 8 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public | 182 | $32,925 |
| 9 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro Public | 120 | $31,660 |
| 10 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem Private not-for-profit | 77 | $30,666 |
ShowHide the other 40 North Carolina colleges offering Biology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson College | Davidson | Private not-for-profit | 77 |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke | Public | 76 |
| Western Carolina University | Cullowhee | Public | 72 |
| North Carolina Central University | Durham | Public | 66 |
| Meredith College | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 53 |
| Wingate University | Wingate | Private not-for-profit | 53 |
| Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville | Public | 49 |
| Elon University | Elon | Private not-for-profit | 45 |
| Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem | Public | 45 |
| High Point University | High Point | Private not-for-profit | 43 |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek | Private not-for-profit | 36 |
| University of North Carolina Asheville | Asheville | Public | 35 |
| Elizabeth City State University | Elizabeth City | Public | 27 |
| Methodist University | Fayetteville | Private not-for-profit | 25 |
| Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Belmont Abbey College | Belmont | Private not-for-profit | 20 |
| Catawba College | Salisbury | Private not-for-profit | 20 |
| Barton College | Wilson | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| University of Mount Olive | Mount Olive | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Warren Wilson College | Swannanoa | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Johnson C Smith University | Charlotte | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Guilford College | Greensboro | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Lees-McRae College | Banner Elk | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Greensboro College | Greensboro | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| North Carolina Wesleyan University | Rocky Mount | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Louisburg College | Louisburg | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Pfeiffer University | Misenheimer | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| William Peace University | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Mars Hill University | Mars Hill | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Chowan University | Murfreesboro | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Livingstone College | Salisbury | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Bennett College | Greensboro | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Saint Augustine's University | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Shaw University | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Brevard College | Brevard | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Montreat College | Montreat | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Salem College | Winston-Salem | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Carolina University | Winston-Salem | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Biological Technicians (SOC 19-4021).
Top skills
What Biological Technicians earn in North Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Biology programs in North Carolina.
Which North Carolina colleges award the most Biology degrees?+
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (617 graduates a year), North Carolina State University at Raleigh (425 graduates a year) and University of North Carolina at Charlotte (364 graduates a year) award the most Biology degrees in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 50 North Carolina colleges offer Biology.
What is the best college for Biology in North Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, Meredith College leads among bachelor's Biology programs in North Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,182, College Scorecard. East Carolina University and North Carolina State University at Raleigh follow. By degrees awarded, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the largest, with 617 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Biology program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Meredith College tops the list at $43,182. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Biological Technicians earn in North Carolina?+
The average annual wage for Biological Technicians in North Carolina is $60,370 (median $61,720), across about 2,460 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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