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Cheapest Biological and Biomedical Sciences Colleges

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

California State University-Bakersfield delivers the nation's most affordable biological sciences education at just $5,825 net cost annually, while graduates earn $27,440 starting salaries. This remarkable value proposition stands in sharp contrast to private alternatives like Fresno Pacific University, where the same field costs $14,317 net despite similar career outcomes. The program benefits from California's position as home to over 3,400 biotechnology companies, creating strong regional demand for specialized biological research skills. Public institutions dominate the most affordable tier, with California State University-Fresno following closely at $6,480 net cost. However, earnings vary significantly across programs, ranging from $12,221 to $31,495, suggesting that location and regional industry connections play important roles in graduate outcomes. Puerto Rico emerges as an unexpected leader in affordability, with three universities offering programs under $10,000 net cost, though graduation rates remain modest at 31-51 percent.
50
Programs
$5,825 – $20,986
Net Price Range
$32,215
Avg. Program Earnings
57.6%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $5,825 $7,696 49.3% 86.6%
2 $6,480 $6,980 54.8% 95.4%
3 $7,455 $5,354 50.6% 54.0%
4 $8,142 $5,954 47.7% 76.8%
5 $8,783 $5,580 33.0% 33.8%
6 $9,082 $8,179 45.4% 77.6%
7 $9,657 $6,284 31.4% 93.2%
8 $13,024 $6,360 43.6% 55.2%
9 $13,164 $9,412 68.5% 97.4%
10 $13,208 $6,368 31.0% 82.5%
11 $13,741 $7,992 64.7% 76.7%
12 $14,317 $35,558 55.9% 75.0%
13 $14,459 $29,790 54.8% 70.9%
14 $14,514 $7,992 29.6%
15 $14,582 $12,240 53.8% 76.4%
16 $14,715 $9,192 49.9% 93.5%
17 $14,832 $17,228 93.2% 17.7%
18 $15,201 $16,004 84.9% 44.8%
19 $15,342 $11,790 81.2% 82.4%
20 $15,608 $64,862 87.5% 10.8%
21 $15,644 $8,771 53.5% 84.6%
22 $15,745 $10,314 38.7% 54.9%
23 $15,960 $13,626 65.9% 86.8%
24 $16,041 $14,190 61.8% 79.0%
25 $16,607 $14,560 74.5% 46.9%
26 $17,139 $16,488 84.8% 74.9%
27 $17,185 $29,778 51.1% 65.0%
28 $17,760 $31,728 42.4%
29 $17,980 $8,676 40.9% 84.0%
30 $18,027 $37,860 53.2% 85.1%
31 $18,109 $13,484 73.5% 68.4%
32 $18,244 $33,724 58.4% 79.9%
33 $18,251 $28,976 56.8% 94.4%
34 $18,282 $15,496 51.1% 80.8%
35 $18,486 $10,408 63.9% 67.9%
36 $18,661 $34,700 46.4% 79.8%
37 $18,675 $19,110 30.2% 69.9%
38 $18,686 $62,412 94.1% 6.9%
39 $18,730 $9,206 69.9% 69.5%
40 $18,740 $38,135 70.2% 89.6%
41 $19,155 $9,432 61.4% 99.5%
42 $19,428 $31,270 36.6% 75.3%
43 $19,614 $12,846 65.5% 88.0%
44 $19,725 $9,633 49.3% 78.9%
45 $19,798 $43,600 64.4% 87.0%
46 $20,088 $26,265 59.1% 93.1%
47 $20,148 $69,045 95.0% 4.0%
48 $20,709 $44,360 56.0% 75.7%
49 $20,748 $26,156 55.6% 86.0%
50 $20,986 $38,514 47.2% 69.5%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes California State University-Bakersfield the most affordable option for biological sciences?

CSU-Bakersfield offers the lowest net price at $5,825 annually while maintaining strong graduate earnings of $27,440. The university benefits from California's extensive biotechnology sector, which employs over 280,000 workers statewide. With an 86.55% acceptance rate and 49.30% graduation rate, the program provides accessible entry into biological research fields.

How do Puerto Rico universities compare in terms of affordability and outcomes?

Three Puerto Rico institutions rank among the top affordable options, with net costs ranging from $7,455 to $9,657. The University of Puerto Rico at Ponce offers the lowest in-state tuition at $5,354, though graduates earn $12,221 on average. Graduation rates across these programs vary from 31.40% to 50.60%, reflecting different institutional approaches to student support.

Is there a significant cost difference between public and private biological sciences programs?

Public institutions dominate the affordable tier, with 11 of the 15 cheapest programs offered by state universities. Private options like Fresno Pacific University cost $14,317 net compared to $5,825 at CSU-Bakersfield. However, some private institutions like Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon maintain competitive pricing at $8,783 net cost.

Does graduation rate correlate with program cost in biological sciences?

Higher-cost programs generally show better graduation rates, with the University of Mississippi achieving 68.50% completion at $13,164 net cost. However, CSU-Fresno breaks this pattern with a strong 54.80% graduation rate despite its low $6,480 net price. The most affordable option at CSU-Bakersfield maintains a respectable 49.30% graduation rate.

Where do biological sciences graduates earn the highest starting salaries?

California State University-Bakersfield graduates earn $27,440 annually, the highest among affordable programs with available earnings data. This reflects California's concentration of biotechnology companies and research institutions requiring specialized biological expertise. In contrast, University of Puerto Rico at Ponce graduates earn $12,221, highlighting regional economic differences that affect career prospects.

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