Cheapest Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences Colleges

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice delivers the nation's most affordable Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences education at just $3,046 net cost, making biological research careers accessible to students from all economic backgrounds. This remarkable affordability contrasts sharply with the program's 55.50% graduation rate, which surpasses many regional competitors. The biological sciences sector continues expanding across major metropolitan areas, with pharmaceutical companies, research hospitals, and biotechnology firms actively recruiting graduates from affordable public programs. California dominates this list with three state universities offering net costs between $5,646 and $10,550, reflecting the state's commitment to accessible STEM education. Ohio University's satellite campuses provide another pathway, with five locations offering identical in-state tuition of $6,178 but varying net costs from $4,503 to $6,483. Early career earnings span from $24,140 to $41,565, with California State University-Northridge graduates achieving the highest median at $41,565 despite a reasonable net cost of $7,599. These programs prepare students for laboratory research positions, medical school prerequisites, and biotechnology industry roles that form the backbone of modern healthcare innovation.

Programs

$3,046 – $18,762

Net Price Range

$32,750

Avg. Program Earnings

62.5%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, New York	$3,046	$7,470	55.5%	50.7%
2	Ohio University-Eastern Campus Saint Clairsville, Ohio	$4,503	$6,178	20.0%
3	Ohio University-Southern Campus Ironton, Ohio	$5,328	$6,178	19.3%
4	California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, California	$5,646	$7,073	69.2%	66.7%
5	Ohio University-Zanesville Campus Zanesville, Ohio	$5,971	$6,178	17.7%
6	Ohio University-Lancaster Campus Lancaster, Ohio	$6,133	$6,178	13.7%
7	Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus Chillicothe, Ohio	$6,483	$6,178	12.1%
8	California State University-Northridge Northridge, California	$7,599	$7,095	56.2%	91.2%
9	Western New Mexico University Silver City, New Mexico	$7,912	$7,868	34.9%
10	University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Waterbury, Connecticut	$8,896	$17,462	59.5%	97.9%
11	Salish Kootenai College Pablo, Montana	$9,002	$4,311	35.2%
12	California State University-San Marcos San Marcos, California	$10,550	$7,739	54.2%	95.2%
13	University of Connecticut-Avery Point Groton, Connecticut	$11,504	$17,462	56.7%	97.4%
14	University of California-San Diego La Jolla, California	$11,750	$15,265	87.6%	23.7%
15	Northeastern State University Tahlequah, Oklahoma	$11,800	$7,513	37.2%	99.5%
16	University of California-Irvine Irvine, California	$12,840	$14,237	86.0%	21.2%
17	San Francisco State University San Francisco, California	$12,882	$7,424	50.1%	94.2%
18	University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, Hawaii	$13,181	$12,186	62.6%	72.8%
19	University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus Hartford, Connecticut	$13,339	$17,452	65.4%	97.3%
20	Augusta University Augusta, Georgia	$13,347	$8,122	48.6%	85.5%
21	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, Washington	$13,485	$12,643	83.7%	47.5%
22	Oakland University Rochester Hills, Michigan	$13,584	$14,694	56.9%	90.1%
23	University of California-Riverside Riverside, California	$13,707	$14,170	76.6%	68.7%
24	University of Georgia Athens, Georgia	$13,816	$11,180	87.2%	42.6%
25	University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, California	$13,825	$14,965	85.3%	25.9%
26	Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, Indiana	$13,945	$9,992	83.1%	52.7%
27	University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, California	$14,013	$13,747	92.7%	8.6%
28	University of Connecticut-Stamford Stamford, Connecticut	$14,059	$17,472	56.9%	92.2%
29	Central Washington University Ellensburg, Washington	$14,715	$9,192	49.9%	93.5%
30	University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh, Wisconsin	$14,761	$8,212	57.9%	88.5%
31	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, Michigan	$14,832	$17,228	93.2%	17.7%
32	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California	$14,979	$14,850	92.9%	11.3%
33	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, Illinois	$15,201	$16,004	84.9%	44.8%
34	University of California-Davis Davis, California	$15,288	$15,247	85.1%	37.3%
35	University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona	$15,960	$13,626	65.9%	86.8%
36	Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, Michigan	$16,041	$14,190	61.8%	79.0%
37	William Jewell College Liberty, Missouri	$16,602	$19,890	61.6%	41.0%
38	University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, California	$16,607	$14,560	74.5%	46.9%
39	Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts	$16,816	$59,076	97.3%	3.2%
40	Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan	$17,096	$14,628	68.6%	90.4%
41	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, Minnesota	$17,139	$16,488	84.8%	74.9%
42	University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas	$17,365	$11,700	68.8%	87.8%
43	Missouri State University-Springfield Springfield, Missouri	$17,502	$9,024	57.3%	92.6%
44	Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead, Minnesota	$17,816	$10,336	54.6%	56.6%
45	Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland	$18,161	$63,340	94.6%	7.3%
46	Salem State University Salem, Massachusetts	$18,441	$11,978	55.0%	92.7%
47	University of Minnesota-Duluth Duluth, Minnesota	$18,464	$14,318	64.5%	80.7%
48	Western Washington University Bellingham, Washington	$18,680	$9,286	65.5%	92.7%
49	University of Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana	$18,748	$36,136	55.8%	76.1%
50	University of St Thomas Houston, Texas	$18,762	$33,660	68.6%	96.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY John Jay's program so much cheaper than other options?

CUNY John Jay College offers the lowest net cost at $3,046 due to generous financial aid packages that reduce the $7,470 in-state tuition significantly. The school's location in New York City provides access to numerous research hospitals and pharmaceutical companies for internships. Despite the criminal justice focus, the college maintains strong science programs with dedicated laboratory facilities. The 55.50% graduation rate demonstrates solid academic support for biology students.

How do California State Universities compare in terms of value?

California State University-Fullerton offers the best earning potential at $24,140 median salary with a net cost of just $5,646. CSU-Northridge graduates earn significantly more at $41,565 but pay $7,599 net cost. CSU-San Marcos falls between these options at $32,382 earnings and $10,550 net cost. All three schools maintain graduation rates between 54% and 69%, providing solid return on investment.

Is Ohio University's satellite campus model effective for biology education?

Ohio University operates five satellite campuses with identical $6,178 in-state tuition but widely varying graduation rates from 12.10% to 20.00%. The Eastern Campus in Saint Clairsville achieves the highest graduation rate at 20.00% with a $4,503 net cost. These regional campuses serve rural Ohio communities where students might otherwise lack access to four-year biology programs. The lower graduation rates reflect the challenges of delivering laboratory-intensive science education at smaller facilities.

Does University of California-San Diego justify its higher cost?

UC San Diego commands an $11,750 net cost but delivers an strong 87.60% graduation rate and highly selective 23.71% acceptance rate. The university's research reputation in cellular biology attracts top faculty and provides undergraduate research opportunities. Students benefit from proximity to major biotechnology companies in the San Diego area. The higher investment typically pays off through better graduate school placement and research career preparation.

Where do graduates typically find employment after these programs?

Biology graduates enter varied career paths including pharmaceutical research, medical laboratory work, and biotechnology companies concentrated in California, New York, and Ohio metropolitan areas. Median earnings range from $24,140 to $41,565 depending on geographic location and career specialization. Many graduates use these programs as stepping stones to medical school, graduate research, or specialized certifications. The growing healthcare industry continues creating new positions requiring cellular biology expertise across all regions.

More Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences Rankings

Best Value Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences Under $20,000

All Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences Programs All College Rankings Highest-Paying Majors 2026

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