[College research](/) / [Rankings](/rankings/) # Best Ecology Programs in the Midwest (2026) Updated September 30, 2026 Regional list from [Best Ecology Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-ecology-programs/) This page ranks the 9 Ecology programs in the Midwest by median earnings of Ecology graduates four years after completing, highest first. [Michigan State University](/school/michigan-state-university/majors/) leads the list at $55,159, followed by [University of Dayton](/school/university-of-dayton/majors/) at $53,448 and [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor](/school/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor/majors/) at $52,390. Across the listed programs, median earnings range from $55,159 to $24,267, with a median of $49,602. For 1 of the 9 programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. Public institutions account for 8 of the 9 programs, with 1 private nonprofit program completing the list. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranks 16th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and it also posts the lowest average net price on the page at $13,138. Saint Cloud State University reports the highest admission rate, admitting 95% of applicants. ## The ranked list 9 schools in list order | Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Michigan State University · East Lansing, MI | $55,159 | $19,680 | $7,068 | 84.8% | | | [Michigan State University](/school/michigan-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $55,159](/school/michigan-state-university/outcomes/) for its Ecology graduates four years after completing, from a cohort of 31. | | 2 | University of Dayton · Dayton, OH | $53,448 | $29,533 | $21,736 | 65.5% | | | A private nonprofit university in Dayton, [University of Dayton](/school/university-of-dayton/majors/) shows an [average net price of $29,533](/school/university-of-dayton/cost/) and a median earnings figure of $53,448 four years after completing. | | 3 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI | $52,390 | $13,138 | $1,043 | 15.6% | | | [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor](/school/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor/majors/) [admits 16% of applicants](/school/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor/admissions/) and ranks 16th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | | 4 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · Minneapolis, MN | $50,106 | $16,778 | $6,642 | 79.8% | | | Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a [median of $19,500](/school/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities/outcomes/) in federal loans at [University of Minnesota-Twin Cities](/school/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities/majors/), which ranks 4th on this list. | | 5 | University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI | $49,602 | $17,354 | $4,200 | 45.2% | | | [University of Wisconsin-Madison](/school/university-of-wisconsin-madison/majors/) posts [median earnings of $49,602](/school/university-of-wisconsin-madison/outcomes/) for its Ecology graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 64. | | 6 | Bemidji State University · Bemidji, MN | $45,822 | $15,261 | $10,073 | 56.0% | | | [Bemidji State University](/school/bemidji-state-university/majors/) has an [average net price of $10,073](/school/bemidji-state-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 and a school-wide median federal debt of $19,750 across all borrowers who completed. | | 7 | Saint Cloud State University · Saint Cloud, MN | $44,386 | $13,529 | $8,909 | 94.8% | | | [Saint Cloud State University](/school/saint-cloud-state-university/majors/) [ranks 619th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/saint-cloud-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an admission rate of 95%. | | 8 | Iowa State University · Ames, IA | $39,143 | $18,589 | $10,582 | 88.7% | | | [Iowa State University](/school/iowa-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $39,143](/school/iowa-state-university/outcomes/) for its Ecology graduates four years after completing, alongside a cohort of 118. | | 9 | Northwest Missouri State University · Maryville, MO | $24,267 | $16,244 | $13,176 | 86.1% | | | [Northwest Missouri State University](/school/northwest-missouri-state-university/majors/) shows an [average net price of $16,244](/school/northwest-missouri-state-university/cost/) and median earnings of $24,267 four years after completing, with a cohort of 14. | ## How this list is ordered Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Ecology graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the Midwest appear. The figure is the median for federally aided completers of the program who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 1 of the 9 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for cost or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The gap between Michigan State University and University of Dayton is $1,711, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom is $30,892. ## Related rankings - [Best Ecology Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-ecology-programs/) - [Best Colleges in the Midwest](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-midwest/) - [Best Ecology Programs in the Northeast](/rankings/best-ecology-programs-in-the-northeast/) - [Best Ecology Programs in the South](/rankings/best-ecology-programs-in-the-south/) - [Best Ecology Programs in the West](/rankings/best-ecology-programs-in-the-west/) - Biological Sciences Colleges in the Midwest for Social Mobility - Biological Sciences Colleges in the Midwest