5 Best Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Biology
Updated October 29, 2021 | BestCollegeReviews.org Staff
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Online Bachelor's Degrees in Biology
Most students take biology courses in high school, although, these classes are the tip of the iceberg of topics within the field. For students looking to earn a bachelor's degree in this field, it can be so much more, providing the foundations for careers in both research and medicine. They can also go on to teach those high school biology classes.
For students looking to teach, the job market is expected to have grown by 15 percent by 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For those who pursue medical school, the field is supposed to have grown by 13 percent by 2026, and the 2018 median pay for physicians was reportedly near $208,000 per year.
For students thinking about degrees in this field, they should consider first how a program may prepare them for their career goals. If a student is interested in medical school, they should determine whether a program has had graduates who go on to become doctors.
Additionally, students might consider the number of credits they'd be able to transfer in if they’ve already completed college coursework. For all the answers to these questions and more, the 5 Best Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Biology is a great place to start for planning your next moves for 2020!
Methodology
Best College Reviews provides degree rankings, such as the 5 Best Online Bachelor's Degrees in Biology 2020, from carefully researched data sets published from government and non-profit organizations across the United States. Five primary factors affect how we rank degrees:
- 25% Student Satisfaction
- 30% Earning Potential
- 15% Retention Data
- 20% Affordability
- 10% Acceptance Rates
For an in-depth breakdown of how we calculate each ranking, check out our Methodology page.
Featured Online Schools
TEMPE, AZ
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY SCIENCES
Website
Score:100.0
At the top of this andU.S. News and World Report’s Most Innovative Schools lists, Arizona State University has a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. An entirely online degree, students take 39 classes, which leads to a grand total of 120 total credit hours of coursework. Classes are 7.5 weeks in length. Additionally, the course of study follows precedents set by a report from the American Medical Colleges and the Howard Hughes Medical Committee, preparing students for admission into medical school. Finally, ASU has collaborated with Google and Labster to allow students to take advantage of virtual reality labs anywhere.
Net Price:$12,947
ALBANY, NY
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NATURAL SCIENCES
Website
Score:98.5
Excelsior College offers a Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences that prioritizes the importance of science and technology in today’s society, recognizing the role it places in the economy and the environment as well. Excelsior is transfer-friendly and allows up to 117 credit hours to be transferred in, although the average number transferred in by students is 69. Students can also earn a concentration in biology. Overall, the program requires 120 credit hours and is an online course of study. The biology concentration hones in on topics like evolutionary biology, biodiversity, anatomy and physiology, plant anatomy, genetics, and microbiology.
Net Price:N/A
WESTFIELD, MA
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY
Website
Score:88.9
Westfield State University provides students with the opportunity to complete their Bachelor of Science in Biology on a part-time basis. This particular program is geared toward ensuring that students can take advantage of the flexibility of course offerings so that they can work on their degree on a part-time basis. This means that classes are in the late afternoon and early evening as well as online. Within the major itself, students need to earn 63 credits of coursework, and this includes courses like Organismal Neurobiology, Plant Biology, and Genetics. Students must also meet the common core requirements. As they begin to plan for graduation, students can also meet with advisers to help them take the next steps, either professionally or academically.
Net Price:$15,967
CARROLLTON, GA
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY
Website
Score:87.9
The University of West Georgia allows students to complete a Bachelor of Science in Biology. In this program, students complete 120 credit hours of coursework. Topics include cell and molecular biology, organismal biology, ecology, and evolution. Specific class options can range from Taxonomy of Flowering Plants and ferns to Medical Virology. There are three tracks within the program, which include the General Track, Professional Preparation Track, and the Secondary Education Track. The last of these enable students to meet state and national standards for science so that students can continue on to teach. UWG is also accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Net Price:$14,351
LARGO, MD
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
Website
Score:84.9
Starting off this list is the University of Maryland University College, which offers a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology. It’s important to note that this program mandates that students must already have some prior experience in biotechnology, whether that be through transferred credit or experience in the field. It is also suggested that students have a background in biology, chemistry, and math. In this completely online degree, students must finish 120 credits of coursework, which includes classes like Bioinformatics, Current Trends and Applications in the Life Sciences, and Workplace Learning in Biology. Students also have the opportunity to complete an internship during the course of their degree.