The Top 20 Biology Degree Programs in 2024

As the #7 public university, the University of Florida is an excellent reputation for having a plethora of quality academic programs to choose from. This high ranking university also offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology that will teach students a broad spectrum of topics in biology, such as Functional Vertebrae Anatomy, Plant Ecology, and Invertebrate Biodiversity.

The University of Nebraska at Kearney is a mid-sized university with approximately 1,800 students enrolled. One of their most popular majors is Biology, which is also taught as a distance learning program. The online Master of Science in Biology is a 36-credit program that is designed for middle school and high school teachers, scientists, or researchers.

The Biology Graduate Doctoral Program at Texas A&M University includes coursework, seminars, an oral qualifying exam, one year of teaching experience, and completion of a research dissertation with the guidance of faculty members. It is a mid-size institution that has been described by previous students as a supportive environment.

Oregon State University has been educating students majoring in biology for more than 100 years. Among the degrees offered, an online biology minor is available to improve the students’ chances of obtaining a life science career upon graduation. Oregon State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

While the Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at the University of West Georgia is not a fully online program, there is a great deal of flexibility offered to the students in order to fit their busy schedules. The objective of this program is to create a more diverse background in modern biology. The degree is a 4-year program and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Clemson University is a South Carolina-based, large university that provides 77 graduate programs to choose from, including 19 online degrees. One of those online degree options is a Master of Science in Biological Sciences. The program requires 30 credits and is specially designed for K-12 teachers and others who have an interest in biological sciences. Both degree and non-degree options are available and can be completed in as little as 6 semesters.

*Program costs are $499 per credit hour, with most of the students being working professionals who typically take one or two courses per semester. Estimated annual tuition is based on a student taking 4 courses (12 credits) per year.

The Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics graduate program at the University of Minnesota will allow students to work in the university’s state-of-the-art lab, as well as attend workshops and seminars. Faculty will also work closely with students in the first year to help them determine what area they are the most interested in studying.

Biomedical engineering is the study of health problems, such as diseases and illnesses, and finding a way to engineer a solution through pharmaceuticals, tissue engineering, biosensors, and more. Colorado State University in Fort Collins offers an online Master’s in Biomedical Engineering that will teach structure and function of biomaterials, material issues in mechanical design, and design and data analysis.

Another Colorado-based university to make our list is the University of North Colorado. This institution offers a fully online Master’s in Biological Sciences that are perfect for high school biology teachers and other professionals who want a deeper understanding of biological concepts. It is a non-thesis degree and is a 30-credit program that typically takes between two and three years to complete.

An online Bachelor of Science in Biology is available from Washington State University. This program will educate students on a variety of general biological topics, including the development of plants and animals, human anatomy, taxonomy, evolutionary biology, and ecology. WSU’s online biology degree was ranked one of the Best Online Programs by US News due in part because of their highly experienced faculty. A Professional Science Master’s in Molecular Biosciences is also available as an online degree.

Villanova University is a private, Catholic college that serves the educational needs of more than 4,100 students in the Philadelphia area. A Master of Science in Biology is available both on campus and online. Along with completing the 30-credit coursework that is required, independent research under the direction of a faculty member is also needed.

Michigan State University is a public graduate school that can be found in East Lansing, Michigan. This institution offers 121 graduate programs, including 16 that are offered completely online. A wide range of biology-related majors are available at the graduate level depending on the topic the students are interested in studying. Some of the Graduate Degree Programs available are Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedical Laboratory Operations, Bimolecular Science, and Cell and Molecular Biology.

The Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst will teach students all aspects of biological sciences. This program can be a stepping stone to obtaining a PhD and is taught by faculty members from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, Amherst College, Smith College, and Mount Holyoke College. Master of Science students must have a home laboratory before being admitted to the program.

An online Master of Science in Biology is offered at Western Kentucky University in both a thesis and non-thesis format. The program requires 30 credit hours and will better prepare students to have careers that focus on basic and applied sciences.

Indiana Wesleyan University is a private, Christian college located in Marion, Indiana. It is a mid-sized institution that offers 26 graduate programs and 18 online degrees to its 4,298 graduate students. One of the programs offered is a Graduate Biology Certificate that can be completed in 12 months and is ideal for secondary teachers who want to become qualified to instruct advanced placement, dual enrollment, or early college courses. Completers may also elect to complete a Master of Science degree with a major in Biology in Education by taking an additional fifteen hours of graduate education courses, also offered online.

For over 70 years, the University of Maryland Global Campus has been providing flexible educational options to working professionals and other students who are in need of a non-traditional online education. The Biotechnology Master’s Degree blends computer science, mathematics, and biology as a way to analyze large amounts of data that has been generated by modern biology. It is a 36-credit program that will prepare students for careers in bioinformatics.

Arizona State University – Skysong is a large, public university that has at least 8,700 graduate students enrolled in one of their 34 online graduate programs. The Master of Science in Biology with a Concentration in Biology and Society is perfect for those who are interested in careers related to policy and law, bioethics, and biology education research. Accelerated degrees are available that will allow students to complete both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in as little as five years.

Located in West Hartford, Connecticut, the University of Saint Joseph is a mid-size private, Catholic university where more than 1,500 graduate students have decided to further their education. The online Master of Science degree in Biology is a 30-credit hour program that can be completed in as little as two years. This program will provide students with a broader understanding of how to identify and solve fundamental scientific problems, as well as enhancing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Life University is a private graduate school that can be found in Marietta, Georgia. A Bachelor of Science degree in Biology is available both in-person and online, allowing students to choose the educational path that best suits their learning styles and schedules. The faculty at this institution want to build on the students’ passion for living systems by offering courses that will teach the foundations of biology.

Davenport University is a mid-size private graduate school that offers 12 graduate programs to its 1,417 graduate students. This college offers a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Laboratory Science that requires both on-campus and online courses. Students will gain knowledge on how to research, analyze or produce medications, vaccines and other genetically modified products.