Compare 249 Biology, General. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $46,766.
With top graduates earning $95,564, Biology, General. stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $49K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
University of Detroit Mercy's Biology program leads with graduates earning $95,564, well above the $46,680 average across 250 Midwest programs. Ohio Dominican follows at $83,827, demonstrating how focused regional programs can deliver outcomes that rival better-known institutions through program-specific excellence.
Highest program earnings: $95,564
Strong outcomes with 80% acceptance
4.4% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
9.2% family burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of Detroit MercyPrivate | $95,564 | 92 | $23,250 | Excellent | $22,484 | Good |
| #2 | Ohio Dominican UniversityPrivate | $83,827 | 13 | $26,000 | Excellent | $30,259 | Manageable |
| #3 | Bradley UniversityPrivate | $74,054 | 25 | $27,000 | Excellent | $41,405 | Challenging |
| #4 | $72,626 | 32 | $20,000 | Excellent | $16,000 | Good | |
| #5 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $69,257 | 91 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Manageable |
| #6 | Nebraska Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | $68,036 | 28 | $26,970 | Good | $28,640 | Challenging |
| #7 | $67,827 | 27 | $17,832 | Excellent | $15,277 | Good | |
| #8 | $67,659 | 14 | $21,500 | Excellent | $14,676 | Good | |
| #9 | Chadron State CollegePublic | $66,970 | 20 | $18,875 | Excellent | $10,035 | Good |
| #10 | Marquette UniversityPrivate | $66,072 | 200 | $23,940 | Excellent | $45,500 | Challenging |
| #11 | Saint Mary's CollegePrivate | $64,337 | 19 | $27,000 | Good | $48,565 | High |
| #12 | Buena Vista UniversityPrivate | $63,633 | 14 | $25,000 | Good | $12,074 | Manageable |
| #13 | Drake UniversityPrivate | $63,077 | 18 | $23,000 | Excellent | $26,000 | Manageable |
| #14 | Indiana University-EastPublic | $62,475 | 12 | $18,000 | Excellent | $13,042 | Good |
| #15 | $61,860 | 22 | $25,750 | Good | $24,831 | Challenging | |
| #16 | Saint Ambrose UniversityPrivate | $61,468 | 27 | $25,000 | Good | $30,948 | Challenging |
| #17 | University Of Mount UnionPrivate | $61,157 | 30 | $27,000 | Good | $38,000 | High |
| #18 | Wartburg CollegePrivate | $60,804 | 41 | $27,000 | Good | $27,152 | Challenging |
| #19 | University Of Saint MaryPrivate | $60,442 | 17 | $22,018 | Excellent | $20,026 | Manageable |
| #20 | Mount St. Joseph UniversityPrivate | $60,308 | 11 | $26,827 | Good | $27,644 | Challenging |
| #21 | $60,146 | 80 | $22,057 | Good | $14,269 | Manageable | |
| #22 | Winona State UniversityPublic | $60,023 | 79 | $21,500 | Excellent | $19,316 | Manageable |
| #23 | $59,939 | 340 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,729 | Challenging | |
| #24 | $59,119 | 130 | $19,509 | Excellent | $32,850 | Challenging | |
| #25 | Benedictine UniversityPrivate | $58,750 | 53 | $22,500 | Good | $22,900 | Challenging |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
