Texas · Biology

Best colleges for Biology in Texas

Ranked by graduate earnings

Southern Methodist University, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and University of Houston-Clear Lake are the top bachelor's Biology programs in Texas by graduate earnings. Southern Methodist University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,087, College Scorecard. Texas A&M University - College Station, The University of Texas at Austin and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley award the most Biology degrees in Texas: 1,048, 761 and 489 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 102 Texas colleges offer Biology and award 9,488 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
102
offering CIP 26.01
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
9,488
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$33,597
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
48
College Scorecard
Median net price
$21,604
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
45%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Biological Technicians
$52,470
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
1Southern Methodist University
Dallas Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$39,0879184%$33,246$22,125
2University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Belton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$36,6372949%$27,869$27,000
3University of Houston-Clear Lake
Houston Public · Bachelor's degree
$35,5919152%—$19,953
4Texas State University
San Marcos Public · Bachelor's degree
$34,51623055%—$24,000
5Saint Edward's University
Austin Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$33,5974363%$24,630$26,000
6Midwestern State University
Wichita Falls Public · Bachelor's degree
$33,2783143%—$28,000
7Dallas Baptist University
Dallas Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$33,0964557%$29,227$25,000
8Sam Houston State University
Huntsville Public · Bachelor's degree
$32,91514555%—$23,853
9University of North Texas
Denton Public · Bachelor's degree
$32,78234761%—$24,000
10Angelo State University
San Angelo Public · Bachelor's degree
$32,5575044%—$22,750

Top 5 certificate and associate programs

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.

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
1Austin Community College District
Austin Public · Associate degree
$34,5606520%—$13,375
2South Texas College
McAllen Public · Associate degree
$28,79113527%—$6,602
3Houston City College
Houston Public · Associate degree
$24,62169717%—$11,005
4Texas State Technical College
Waco Public · Associate degree Small program
$21,2881746%—$10,913
5El Paso Community College
El Paso Public · Associate degree
$17,31410724%—$9,000

Colleges awarding the most Biology degrees in Texas

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)
1Texas A&M University - College Station
College Station Public
1,048$29,028
2The University of Texas at Austin
Austin Public
761$31,832
3The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg Public
489$24,841
4University of Houston
Houston Public
423$27,660
5The University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio Public
376$31,467
6University of North Texas
Denton Public
347$32,782
7Baylor University
Waco Private not-for-profit
307$24,408
8The University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson Public
294$26,029
9The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso Public
294$22,167
10University of North Texas Health Science Center
Fort Worth Public
279Not reported
Show the other 92 Texas colleges offering Biology
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Houston City CollegeHoustonPublic697
Texas Tech UniversityLubbockPublic274
The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlingtonPublic257
Texas State UniversitySan MarcosPublic230
Texas A & M University - Corpus ChristiCorpus ChristiPublic145
Sam Houston State UniversityHuntsvillePublic145
South Texas CollegeMcAllenPublic135
Rice UniversityHoustonPrivate not-for-profit129
Texas Woman's UniversityDentonPublic117
Tarleton State UniversityStephenvillePublic112
University of Houston-DowntownHoustonPublic111
El Paso Community CollegeEl PasoPublic107
Texas A & M International UniversityLaredoPublic101
Texas Christian UniversityFort WorthPrivate not-for-profit97
Prairie View A & M UniversityPrairie ViewPublic95
University of Houston-Clear LakeHoustonPublic91
Southern Methodist UniversityDallasPrivate not-for-profit91
Texas Southern UniversityHoustonPublic89
Texas A&M University - San AntonioSan AntonioPublic85
East Texas A&M UniversityCommercePublic79
University of the Incarnate WordSan AntonioPrivate not-for-profit78
Austin Community College DistrictAustinPublic65
The University of Texas at TylerTylerPublic61
Texas A&M University - KingsvilleKingsvillePublic57
West Texas A & M UniversityCanyonPublic53
Angelo State UniversitySan AngeloPublic50
Amarillo CollegeAmarilloPublic49
University of North Texas at DallasDallasPublic48
Stephen F Austin State UniversityNacogdochesPublic47
Dallas Baptist UniversityDallasPrivate not-for-profit45
Saint Edward's UniversityAustinPrivate not-for-profit43
Lamar UniversityBeaumontPublic42
University of DallasIrvingPrivate not-for-profit41
Odessa CollegeOdessaPublic41
The University of Texas Permian BasinOdessaPublic41
Lamar Institute of TechnologyBeaumontPublic40
Texas A&M University - VictoriaVictoriaPublic38
Houston Christian UniversityHoustonPrivate not-for-profit37
Dallas CollegeDallasPublic36
Lone Star College SystemThe WoodlandsPublic35
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San AntonioSan AntonioPublic35
Midwestern State UniversityWichita FallsPublic31
Texas A&M University - TexarkanaTexarkanaPublic30
University of Mary Hardin-BaylorBeltonPrivate not-for-profit29
Texas Tech University Health Scienes Center El PasoEl PasoPublic29
St. Mary's UniversitySan AntonioPrivate not-for-profit28
University of St ThomasHoustonPrivate not-for-profit27
Austin CollegeShermanPrivate not-for-profit26
Del Mar CollegeCorpus ChristiPublic26
Hardin-Simmons UniversityAbilenePrivate not-for-profit25
Southwestern UniversityGeorgetownPrivate not-for-profit23
Blinn College DistrictBrenhamPublic22
Trinity UniversitySan AntonioPrivate not-for-profit22
Schreiner UniversityKerrvillePrivate not-for-profit21
Abilene Christian UniversityAbilenePrivate not-for-profit20
Temple CollegeTemplePublic19
Lubbock Christian UniversityLubbockPrivate not-for-profit17
Texas State Technical CollegeWacoPublic17
Our Lady of the Lake UniversitySan AntonioPrivate not-for-profit16
Tyler Junior CollegeTylerPublic16
Hill CollegeHillsboroPublic15
Texas Lutheran UniversitySeguinPrivate not-for-profit15
The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonHoustonPublic15
Jarvis Christian UniversityHawkinsPrivate not-for-profit14
Texas Wesleyan UniversityFort WorthPrivate not-for-profit14
Howard CollegeBig SpringPublic13
East Texas Baptist UniversityMarshallPrivate not-for-profit12
McMurry UniversityAbilenePrivate not-for-profit12
Navarro CollegeCorsicanaPublic12
Texarkana CollegeTexarkanaPublic12
Southwestern Adventist UniversityKeenePrivate not-for-profit11
McLennan Community CollegeWacoPublic9
South Plains CollegeLevellandPublic9
Sul Ross State UniversityAlpinePublic9
Texas CollegeTylerPrivate not-for-profit9
Wiley UniversityMarshallPrivate not-for-profit8
Huston-Tillotson UniversityAustinPrivate not-for-profit7
Lamar State College - OrangeOrangePublic7
Texas Tech University Health Sciences CenterLubbockPublic7
Central Texas CollegeKilleenPublic6
Texas A&M University - Central TexasKilleenPublic6
Grayson CollegeDenisonPublic5
Howard Payne UniversityBrownwoodPrivate not-for-profit4
LeTourneau UniversityLongviewPrivate not-for-profit4
Paris Junior CollegeParisPublic4
Wayland Baptist UniversityPlainviewPrivate not-for-profit4
Western Texas CollegeSnyderPublic4
Concordia University TexasAustinPrivate not-for-profit3
Galveston CollegeGalvestonPublic3
Cisco CollegeCiscoPublic2
Alvin Community CollegeAlvinPublic1
Lee CollegeBaytownPublic1

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 Texas

Jobs in Texas
2,730
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$52,470
median $50,130
Best-paying metro
$65,760
Tyler, TX

Related careers

Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
$95,570 avg · 3,840 jobs
Biological Technicians
$52,470 avg · 2,730 jobs
Biological Scientists, All Other
$87,460 avg · 2,480 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Biology programs in Texas.

Which Texas colleges award the most Biology degrees?+

Texas A&M University - College Station (1,048 graduates a year), The University of Texas at Austin (761 graduates a year) and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (489 graduates a year) award the most Biology degrees in Texas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 102 Texas colleges offer Biology.

What is the best college for Biology in Texas?+

By graduate earnings, Southern Methodist University leads among bachelor's Biology programs in Texas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,087, College Scorecard. University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and University of Houston-Clear Lake follow. By degrees awarded, Texas A&M University - College Station is the largest, with 1,048 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Southern Methodist University tops the list at $39,087. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Biological Technicians earn in Texas?+

The average annual wage for Biological Technicians in Texas is $52,470 (median $50,130), across about 2,730 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