Skip to main content

Best Value Biology Colleges in Texas

Ranked by best return on investment (earnings vs. cost). See our methodology.

Texas A&M International University delivers the strongest value proposition for biology students, with a net cost of just $3,061 and graduates earning $23,803 annually. This stark contrast to private institutions like Texas College, where students pay $10,650 for similar earning potential of $22,999, highlights the public school advantage in Texas biology education. The University of Texas Permian Basin graduates command the highest salaries at $41,565, nearly double the state average, reflecting the strong demand for biological scientists in Texas's expanding healthcare sector. With the Texas Medical Center employing over 120,000 people and serving as the world's largest medical complex, biology graduates find ample opportunities in research, clinical work, and biotechnology. Texas public universities consistently deliver lower debt loads, with most programs keeping student borrowing under $25,000 while preparing graduates for careers in the state's $50 billion healthcare industry.
50
Programs
$3,061 – $41,942
Net Price Range
$28,193
Avg. Program Earnings
51.2%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Biology, General Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price Program Earnings In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $3,061 $23,803 $7,846 48.9% 47.9%
2 $5,458 $30,409 $3,148 26.8%
3 $9,144 $41,565 $10,904 43.0% 94.7%
4 $8,624 $36,674 $7,499 26.5% 82.1%
5 $6,500 $27,346 $9,859 49.3% 87.7%
6 $11,882 $33,993 $10,310 41.3% 92.4%
7 $10,204 $29,141 $9,892 45.6% 96.6%
8 $10,948 $26,739 $8,648 44.2% 93.6%
9 $11,234 $26,482 $8,991 51.2% 86.9%
10 $12,637 $29,685 $7,930 31.2% 91.5%
11 $16,025 $34,704 $9,228 55.1% 84.6%
12 $10,650 $22,999 $10,008 10.7%
13 $14,041 $30,305 $11,299 43.2% 76.1%
14 $12,915 $27,488 $8,319 40.7% 79.1%
15 $10,726 $22,554 $9,744 45.9% 99.9%
16 $14,352 $29,805 $11,164 59.6% 79.1%
17 $16,438 $33,459 $11,450 56.2% 87.7%
18 $14,623 $29,141 $7,708 33.8% 88.4%
19 $15,235 $30,228 $11,728 56.5% 80.8%
20 $20,261 $39,729 $7,878 51.2% 87.1%
21 $15,137 $29,540 $9,748 33.7% 88.0%
22 $11,429 $20,687 $8,690 37.2% 83.7%
23 $11,268 $20,140 $10,026 45.9% 86.5%
24 $13,853 $23,233 $9,711 64.9% 66.2%
25 $17,760 $29,593 $31,728 42.4%
26 $20,841 $32,077 $9,101 47.3% 91.6%
27 $19,678 $30,272 $11,678 87.6% 31.4%
28 $21,031 $31,133 $31,686 49.6% 88.3%
29 $23,451 $32,925 $46,500 69.5% 54.4%
30 $20,071 $28,133 $11,852 67.5% 67.3%
31 $20,498 $27,822 $35,660 51.8% 94.2%
32 $19,734 $25,194 $9,173 19.9% 96.8%
33 $17,435 $22,130 $14,564 70.8% 84.7%
34 $21,352 $26,896 $36,242 58.8% 86.2%
35 $22,240 $27,476 $36,690 40.5% 85.7%
36 $22,587 $26,739 $34,920 55.2% 91.8%
37 $20,924 $23,649 $13,099 83.8% 62.7%
38 $23,636 $24,615 $51,384 64.2% 85.1%
39 $19,710 $20,140 $38,100 49.8% 84.5%
40 $41,778 $28,055 $64,460 83.3% 52.3%
41 $30,092 $20,140 $38,140 60.4% 91.4%
42 $41,942 $27,254 $54,844 80.2% 45.9%
43 $23,650 $51,352 81.9% 30.5%
44 $19,847 $14,703 36.1% 51.9%
45 $25,255 $33,322 31.1% 62.3%
46 $11,056 $7,746 50.9% 69.4%
47 $23,790 $30,050 48.0% 67.7%
48 $25,470 $50,880 68.0% 58.7%
49 $19,398 $37,934 32.4% 60.9%
50 $33,531 $57,220 85.6% 56.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What accounts for the $38,500 earnings difference between the highest and lowest-paying biology programs?

UT Permian Basin graduates earn $41,565 compared to $22,554 at UT El Paso, reflecting regional economic differences and program focus. Odessa's proximity to oil and gas industries creates demand for environmental biologists and toxicologists. UT Permian Basin's smaller class sizes and industry partnerships also contribute to stronger job placement outcomes.

How do graduation rates correlate with program costs in Texas biology programs?

Higher-cost programs don't guarantee better completion rates, as evidenced by Sam Houston State's $16,025 net cost producing a 55.1% graduation rate while Texas Southmost College achieves 26.8% at just $5,458. Texas A&M International balances both factors with a 48.9% graduation rate at the lowest cost of $3,061. The data suggests institutional support matters more than price alone.

Is the debt burden reasonable for biology graduates in Texas?

Most Texas biology programs keep debt manageable, with 10 of 15 schools reporting debt under $25,000. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley offers the best debt-to-earnings ratio at $12,051 in debt for $27,346 in earnings. Prairie View A&M represents the highest debt at $29,068, though graduates still earn $30,305 annually in their early careers.

Does acceptance rate indicate program quality in Texas biology education?

Acceptance rates vary dramatically from UT El Paso's 99.92% to Texas A&M International's 47.88%, yet both produce capable biology graduates. More selective programs like Prairie View A&M (76.07% acceptance) and Angelo State (79.14%) don't necessarily correlate with higher earnings. The variation reflects different institutional missions rather than program quality differences.

Where do Texas biology graduates find the best job opportunities after graduation?

Houston's Texas Medical Center offers the most opportunities, employing over 120,000 healthcare workers including research biologists and clinical laboratory scientists. Major health systems like Baylor Scott & White and MD Anderson actively recruit Texas graduates. The state's growing biotechnology sector, particularly in Austin and Dallas, also provides expanding career paths for biology majors.

More Biology, General Rankings

Cheapest Biology, General in Texas Biology, General Under $20,000 in Texas

Related

All Biology, General Programs Best Colleges in Texas Best Biology, General in Texas

Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.