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East Lansing, MI · Biology

Biology at Michigan State

Michigan State graduates about 1,262 biology majors a year, 14% of its graduating class. That puts it 61st of 692 schools we score for biology, a standout program at 82 out of 100. Its current catalog lists 97 undergraduate courses in the field, more than 80% of the schools we've counted. Graduates in the major earn a median $60,000 four years out, about the national figure for the same major. Research spending in the field runs about $199 million a year, a rough guide to how many labs and projects undergraduates can join.

82/100Standout#61 of 692 for biology →
Graduates a year1,26214% of the class
Courses in the catalog97more than 80% of schools
Median pay 4 years out$60,0001.02× the same major nationally
Research in the field$199Ma year, NSF
Admit rate85%whole school
SAT middle 50%1160–1360whole school

Around Michigan State

Sign at Michigan State University Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center.
Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center 1331Photo: Paul R. Burley · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Michigan State University Observatory, 4299 Pavilion Dr, Lansing, Michigan.
Michigan State University Observatory 1290Photo: Paul R. Burley · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue takes part in a working lunch and dis
“Back To Our Roots” In Michigan (20180403-OSEC-LSC-1094)Photo: USDAgov · Public domain · source
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has breakfast with students and facul
“Back To Our Roots” In Michigan (20180403-OSEC-LSC-0936)Photo: USDAgov · Public domain · source

Where biology happens

Buildings on campus that fit the field: Geagley Laboratory, Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Crop and Soil Science Research.

Named buildings on the campus map: Student housing 53 · Academic 10 · Athletics 2.

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Nearby in the biology ranking

  1. Northeastern University 83
  2. Saint Louis University 83
  3. Bucknell University 83
  4. Barnard College 83
  5. Colgate University 82
  6. Trinity University 82
  7. Yeshiva University 82
  8. Amherst College 82

Other strong majors at Michigan State

How the score works

The score is out of 100 and compares Michigan State with every school we score in biology. It weighs the school's overall strength; how many students graduate in the major and what share of the class they are; research spending in the field (NSF); early pay against the same major nationally; how many courses the catalog lists; and test scores. 80+ is a standout program, 65+ strong, 45+ solid. Sources: US Department of Education (College Scorecard, IPEDS), NSF HERD, each school's current course catalog, OpenStreetMap and Wikimedia Commons.

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