Best colleges for biology in Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Madison ranks first in Wisconsin for biology value (#16 nationally, value score 81.1): graduates earn $69,005 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $16,600 a year.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition · Source: College Scorecard field of study, reporting year 2025 · 17 Wisconsin colleges ranked · Updated November 4, 2026
Best biology colleges in Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Madison ranks first in Wisconsin for biology value (#16 nationally, value score 81.1): graduates earn $69,005 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $16,600 a year. 17 Wisconsin colleges qualify. At the median one, biology graduates earn $58,804 and the average net price is $16,133 a year.
Source: U.S. College Scorecard field of study, 2025
What the data shows
Key findings
- 17 Wisconsin colleges qualify. At the median one, biology graduates earn $58,804 and the average net price is $16,133 a year.
- The highest biology earnings in the state are at Marquette University ($88,921), ranked #2 in the state once cost, debt and graduation rate count.
- The lowest average net price among them is at University of Wisconsin-Parkside: $11,233 a year.
- Median earnings
- $58,804
- National: $58,001
- Median net price
- $16,133
- National: $18,049
- Median federal debt
- $22,107
- biology graduates
- Public colleges
- 12 of 17
- in this list
17 colleges
The Wisconsin ranking
Ordered by the national value score; the national rank is shown with each college. Earnings are medians 4 years after the bachelor's degree.
- Earnings
- $69,005
- Net price
- $16,600
- Federal debt
- $17,097
- Graduation rate
- 90%
- Earnings
- $88,921
- Net price
- $30,561
- Federal debt
- $24,109
- Graduation rate
- 79%
- Rank in Wisconsin 3
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
La Crosse, WI · Public · #69 nationally
72.5Value- Earnings
- $67,446
- Net price
- $17,064
- Federal debt
- $20,750
- Graduation rate
- 71%
- Rank in Wisconsin 4
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
River Falls, WI · Public · #173 nationally
62.9Value- Earnings
- $60,875
- Net price
- $14,703
- Federal debt
- $19,500
- Graduation rate
- 58%
- Rank in Wisconsin 5
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI · Public · #193 nationally
61.4Value- Earnings
- $59,937
- Net price
- $16,133
- Federal debt
- $18,500
- Graduation rate
- 62%
- Earnings
- $60,928
- Net price
- $11,233
- Federal debt
- $22,000
- Graduation rate
- 41%
- Rank in Wisconsin 7
Waukesha, WI · Private nonprofit · #272 nationally
56.1Value- Earnings
- $67,070
- Net price
- $24,205
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Graduation rate
- 69%
- Rank in Wisconsin 8
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI · Public · #327 nationally
52.0Value- Earnings
- $58,804
- Net price
- $15,625
- Federal debt
- $21,106
- Graduation rate
- 50%
- Rank in Wisconsin 9
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater, WI · Public · #335 nationally
51.4Value- Earnings
- $58,118
- Net price
- $13,737
- Federal debt
- $23,250
- Graduation rate
- 56%
- Earnings
- $62,683
- Net price
- $28,822
- Federal debt
- $26,000
- Graduation rate
- 72%
- Rank in Wisconsin 11
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Platteville, WI · Public · #503 nationally
37.1Value- Earnings
- $50,540
- Net price
- $15,451
- Federal debt
- $20,250
- Graduation rate
- 58%
- Rank in Wisconsin 12
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI · Public · #514 nationally
35.9Value- Earnings
- $52,187
- Net price
- $14,757
- Federal debt
- $23,250
- Graduation rate
- 53%
- Earnings
- $53,507
- Net price
- $16,492
- Federal debt
- $22,107
- Graduation rate
- 47%
- Rank in Wisconsin 14
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Green Bay, WI · Public · #523 nationally
35.5Value- Earnings
- $51,038
- Net price
- $12,211
- Federal debt
- $22,402
- Graduation rate
- 47%
- Earnings
- $55,576
- Net price
- $26,444
- Federal debt
- $23,750
- Graduation rate
- 66%
- Rank in Wisconsin 16
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Superior, WI · Public · #643 nationally
23.4Value- Earnings
- $44,617
- Net price
- $13,843
- Federal debt
- $23,381
- Graduation rate
- 43%
- Rank in Wisconsin 17
Appleton, WI · Private nonprofit · #649 nationally
22.5Value- Earnings
- $38,092
- Net price
- $22,758
- Federal debt
- $19,885
- Graduation rate
- 79%
Method: the same value score as the national biology ranking (earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate, each a national percentile). Data: College Scorecard, reporting year 2025; 2026–27 edition, verified Nov 2026.
Questions about biology colleges in Wisconsin
What are the best colleges for biology in Wisconsin?
By CollegesRef value score, the top 3 Wisconsin colleges for biology are University of Wisconsin-Madison (value score 81.1), Marquette University (value score 72.5) and University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (value score 72.5). The score weighs graduate earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate.
Which Wisconsin college has the highest earnings for biology graduates?
Marquette University: its biology graduates have median earnings of $88,921 4 years after the bachelor's degree.
What is the most affordable biology college in Wisconsin on this list?
University of Wisconsin-Parkside has the lowest average net price of the ranked Wisconsin colleges, $11,233 a year after grants. A family's own price depends on income and aid.
How many Wisconsin colleges are ranked for biology?
17 Wisconsin colleges have a biology bachelor's program with enough graduates and reported earnings, plus a published net price and graduation rate. Ranks shown are national; the state rank is their order within Wisconsin.