Cheapest Biology Colleges in Minnesota

University of Minnesota-Morris delivers biology education at just $9,110 net cost, making it nearly twice as affordable as the second-cheapest option at $10,874. This rural campus proves that quality biological sciences education doesn't require major city overhead, graduating 61.9% of its students while maintaining a 77.66% acceptance rate. The $17,029 spread between Minnesota's most and least expensive biology programs reflects a clear divide between public state schools and private institutions, with public options clustering around $10,000-18,000 while private schools jump to $17,000-21,000. Biology graduates across Minnesota enter a state economy anchored by healthcare giants like Mayo Clinic and UnitedHealth, where life sciences knowledge translates directly into career opportunities. State universities like Saint Cloud State produce biology graduates earning $38,289 annually, while the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities combines affordability at $17,139 with an impressive 84.8% graduation rate.

Programs

$9,110 – $30,525

Net Price Range

$32,005

Avg. Program Earnings

66.3%

Avg. Graduation Rate

31 Biology, General Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	University of Minnesota-Morris Morris, Minnesota	$9,110	$14,288	61.9%	77.7%
2	University of Minnesota-Crookston Crookston, Minnesota	$10,874	$13,120	49.7%	57.2%
3	Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, Minnesota	$14,485	$10,117	46.9%	95.3%
4	Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall, Minnesota	$14,760	$10,304	44.1%	91.6%
5	Bemidji State University Bemidji, Minnesota	$17,050	$10,164	53.4%	77.5%
6	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, Minnesota	$17,139	$16,488	84.8%	74.9%
7	Concordia University-Saint Paul Saint Paul, Minnesota	$17,566	$25,000	58.8%	69.1%
8	Bethany Lutheran College Mankato, Minnesota	$17,680	$30,010	59.6%	58.5%
9	Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead, Minnesota	$17,816	$10,336	54.6%	56.6%
10	Winona State University Winona, Minnesota	$18,148	$10,498	60.9%	73.8%
11	University of Minnesota-Duluth Duluth, Minnesota	$18,464	$14,318	64.5%	80.7%
12	Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato, Minnesota	$18,609	$9,490	54.1%	70.7%
13	Metropolitan State University Saint Paul, Minnesota	$19,181	$9,780	38.4%	81.7%
14	Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, Minnesota	$21,034	$43,160	67.7%	96.8%
15	Hamline University Saint Paul, Minnesota	$21,385	$48,311	57.7%	80.6%
16	St Catherine University Saint Paul, Minnesota	$21,563	$49,758	65.1%	92.5%
17	St Olaf College Northfield, Minnesota	$22,752	$56,970	83.5%	56.4%
18	North Central University Minneapolis, Minnesota	$23,574	$29,460	63.6%	90.8%
19	Augsburg University Minneapolis, Minnesota	$23,875	$43,942	52.4%	76.5%
20	The College of Saint Scholastica Duluth, Minnesota	$23,949	$40,454	63.0%	96.6%
21	University of Northwestern-St Paul Saint Paul, Minnesota	$25,140	$36,830	68.4%	92.5%
22	Concordia College at Moorhead Moorhead, Minnesota	$25,651	$30,020	71.8%	65.5%
23	Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter, Minnesota	$26,895	$54,310	75.9%	73.9%
24	Saint Johns University Collegeville, Minnesota	$27,018	$53,942	75.7%	86.2%
25	Carleton College Northfield, Minnesota	$27,320	$65,457	91.2%	16.6%
26	Crown College Saint Bonifacius, Minnesota	$27,324	$30,200	64.3%	66.6%
27	College of Saint Benedict Saint Joseph, Minnesota	$28,065	$53,884	83.0%	87.8%
28	Bethel University Saint Paul, Minnesota	$28,439	$42,930	75.2%	72.5%
29	Northwestern Health Sciences University Bloomington, Minnesota	$29,794	$12,015	100.0%
30	Macalester College Saint Paul, Minnesota	$29,980	$64,908	90.4%	28.4%
31	University of St Thomas Saint Paul, Minnesota	$30,525	$52,284	75.2%	77.0%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes University of Minnesota-Morris so much cheaper than other biology programs?

Morris operates as a public liberal arts campus with significantly lower overhead costs than research universities. At $9,110 net cost, it's $1,764 less than the next cheapest option at Crookston. The campus receives state funding specifically designed to keep rural education accessible while maintaining quality biology instruction.

How do graduation rates compare between affordable and expensive biology programs?

The data reveals no clear correlation between cost and graduation success in Minnesota biology programs. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities achieves an 84.8% graduation rate at $17,139, while more expensive Saint Mary's University graduates 67.7% at $21,034. Even affordable options like Morris maintain solid 61.9% completion rates.

Is there a significant earnings difference between public and private biology graduates?

Private school graduates don't necessarily out-earn their public counterparts in biology fields. Saint Mary's University graduates earn $47,118, the highest in the state, but Saint Cloud State graduates earn $38,289 at less than half the cost. Metropolitan State University produces graduates earning $39,729 while charging just $19,181.

Does student debt vary dramatically between Minnesota's biology programs?

Debt levels range from $15,286 at Metropolitan State to $25,393 at Concordia University-Saint Paul, a $10,107 spread. Interestingly, some of the most affordable programs like Morris and Bemidji State carry moderate debt loads around $18,000-19,000. The lowest debt actually comes from Metropolitan State at $15,286 despite its mid-range tuition.

Where do Minnesota biology graduates find employment opportunities?

Minnesota's healthcare sector, anchored by Mayo Clinic and UnitedHealth, creates strong demand for biology graduates in medical research and pharmaceutical development. The state's Target Corporation also employs biologists in product safety and quality control divisions. Average earnings across programs range from $26,933 to $47,118, reflecting the varied career paths available to biology graduates.

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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.