Best colleges for Biology in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Seattle University and Pacific Lutheran University are the top bachelor's Biology programs in Washington by graduate earnings. University of Washington-Seattle Campus leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,716, College Scorecard. Washington State University, University of Washington-Seattle Campus and University of Washington-Bothell Campus award the most Biology degrees in Washington: 247, 210 and 97 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 35 Washington colleges offer Biology and award 1,449 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 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,716 | 210 | 85% | — | $14,223 |
| 2 | Seattle University Seattle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,063 | 31 | 76% | $31,900 | $22,417 |
| 3 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,766 | 50 | 69% | $19,944 | $22,626 |
| 4 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,401 | 61 | 54% | — | $25,790 |
| 5 | Washington State University Pullman Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,290 | 247 | 60% | — | $21,500 |
| 6 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,871 | 65 | 65% | — | $17,003 |
| 7 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,793 | 91 | 43% | — | $21,666 |
| 8 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,819 | 87 | 86% | $30,006 | $26,496 |
| 9 | Whitworth University Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,599 | 23 | 71% | $23,510 | $22,500 |
| 10 | Whitman College Walla Walla Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,538 | 25 | 81% | $28,508 | $18,080 |
Colleges awarding the most Biology degrees in Washington
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 | Washington State University Pullman Public | 247 | $36,290 |
| 2 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public | 210 | $38,716* |
| 3 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus Bothell Public | 97 | $38,716* |
| 4 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public | 91 | $33,793 |
| 5 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit | 87 | $30,819 |
| 6 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus Tacoma Public | 79 | $38,716* |
| 7 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public | 65 | $33,871 |
| 8 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public | 61 | $36,401 |
| 9 | Clark College Vancouver Public | 51 | Not reported |
| 10 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma Private not-for-profit | 50 | $36,766 |
ShowHide the other 25 Washington colleges offering Biology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cascadia College | Bothell | Public | 47 |
| South Puget Sound Community College | Olympia | Public | 33 |
| Pierce College District | Lakewood | Public | 32 |
| Seattle University | Seattle | Private not-for-profit | 31 |
| Edmonds College | Lynnwood | Public | 30 |
| Highline College | Des Moines | Public | 27 |
| Whitman College | Walla Walla | Private not-for-profit | 25 |
| Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (Graduate only) | Yakima | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Whitworth University | Spokane | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
| Saint Martin's University | Lacey | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Spokane Falls Community College | Spokane | Public | 16 |
| University of Puget Sound | Tacoma | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Heritage University | Toppenish | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Walla Walla University | College Place | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Skagit Valley College | Mount Vernon | Public | 11 |
| Tacoma Community College | Tacoma | Public | 11 |
| Lower Columbia College | Longview | Public | 10 |
| Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Kirkland | Public | 7 |
| Spokane Community College | Spokane | Public | 7 |
| Northwest University | Kirkland | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Centralia College | Centralia | Public | 5 |
| Walla Walla Community College | Walla Walla | Public | 3 |
| Grays Harbor College | Aberdeen | Public | 2 |
| Seattle Pacific University | Seattle | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Green River College | Auburn | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Biological Technicians (SOC 19-4021).
Top skills
What Biological Technicians earn in Washington
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Biology programs in Washington.
Which Washington colleges award the most Biology degrees?+
Washington State University (247 graduates a year), University of Washington-Seattle Campus (210 graduates a year) and University of Washington-Bothell Campus (97 graduates a year) award the most Biology degrees in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 35 Washington colleges offer Biology.
What is the best college for Biology in Washington?+
By graduate earnings, University of Washington-Seattle Campus leads among bachelor's Biology programs in Washington, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,716, College Scorecard. Seattle University and Pacific Lutheran University follow. By degrees awarded, Washington State University is the largest, with 247 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Biology program in Washington has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Washington-Seattle Campus tops the list at $38,716. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Biological Technicians earn in Washington?+
The average annual wage for Biological Technicians in Washington is $60,770 (median $60,800), across about 3,210 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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