Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Michigan
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in biology, the usual route for pre-medical study, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Michigan33 schools
33 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Michigan.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in biology, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale, MI · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Michigan
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- 2
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade A+ · Top 3%
- 3
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI · Public#3 in Michigan
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 26%
- 4
Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo, MI · Private nonprofit#4 in Michigan
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 5
Hope College
Holland, MI · Private nonprofit#5 in Michigan
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B-
- 6
Calvin University
Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofit#6 in Michigan
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B
- 7
Kettering University
Flint, MI · Private nonprofitTop 3% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade C+
- 8
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI · PublicTop 9% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade A · Top 7%
- 9
Andrews University
Berrien Springs, MI · Private nonprofitTop 18% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 32%
- 10
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI · Private nonprofitTop 14% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade A · Top 10%
- 11
Spring Arbor University
Spring Arbor, MI · Private nonprofit#12 in Michigan
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B-
- 12
- 13
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Dearborn, MI · PublicTop 14% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- 14
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, MI · PublicTop 25% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 15
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI · PublicTop 24% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade A- · Top 20%
- 16
Lawrence Technological University
Southfield, MI · Private nonprofitTop 15% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade C+
- 17
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI · PublicTop 25% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B · Top 36%
- 18
Aquinas College
Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 19
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI · PublicTop 12% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade A · Top 9%
- 20
Cornerstone University
Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B-
- 21
Albion College
Albion, MI · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 30%
- 22Tie
Madonna University
Livonia, MI · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 32%
- 22Tie
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B · Top 41%
- 24
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B · Top 47%
- 25
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, MI · PublicGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B · Top 37%
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale College | — | — | — | 90% |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $13,138 | $19,500 | $83,648 | 93% |
| Michigan State University | $19,680 | $23,250 | $67,253 | 81% |
| Kalamazoo College | $19,072 | $26,077 | $65,590 | 76% |
| Hope College | $27,182 | $26,800 | $58,427 | 80% |
| Calvin University | $22,992 | $23,250 | $58,375 | 74% |
| Kettering University | $34,660 | $27,000 | $94,823 | 71% |
| Michigan Technological University | $14,182 | $24,990 | $78,198 | 68% |
| Andrews University | $12,547 | $26,000 | $53,187 | 72% |
| University of Detroit Mercy | $15,232 | $23,250 | $71,030 | 67% |
| Spring Arbor University | $19,353 | $26,375 | $51,732 | 64% |
| Alma College | $20,694 | $27,000 | $54,742 | 63% |
| University of Michigan-Dearborn | $9,492 | $22,500 | $59,649 | 58% |
| Lake Superior State University | $12,822 | $23,250 | $49,045 | 51% |
| Wayne State University | $12,766 | $21,250 | $53,493 | 58% |
| Lawrence Technological University | $32,918 | $27,000 | $69,151 | 61% |
| Grand Valley State University | $16,317 | $24,500 | $56,118 | 67% |
| Aquinas College | $16,626 | $23,000 | $49,584 | 65% |
| Oakland University | $9,120 | $22,750 | $58,612 | 58% |
| Cornerstone University | $20,301 | $25,000 | $47,314 | 62% |
| Albion College | $14,301 | $27,000 | $58,799 | 62% |
| Madonna University | $17,755 | $23,000 | $59,058 | 60% |
| Western Michigan University | $15,273 | $26,188 | $53,562 | 58% |
| Central Michigan University | $17,597 | $27,000 | $55,874 | 59% |
| Northern Michigan University | $14,085 | $21,474 | $47,107 | 52% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 23
- Alaska 3
- Arizona 9
- Arkansas 19
- California 69
- Colorado 15
- Connecticut 21
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 8
- Florida 35
- Georgia 49
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 7
- Illinois 48
- Indiana 40
- Iowa 26
- Kansas 23
- Kentucky 25
- Louisiana 22
- Maine 13
- Maryland 20
- Massachusetts 47
- Minnesota 30
- Mississippi 15
- Missouri 40
- Montana 9
- Nebraska 17
- Nevada 4
- New Hampshire 11
- New Jersey 25
- New Mexico 8
- New York 88
- North Carolina 50
- North Dakota 8
- Ohio 60
- Oklahoma 21
- Oregon 18
- Pennsylvania 98
- Puerto Rico 25
- Rhode Island 8
- South Carolina 31
- South Dakota 9
- Tennessee 36
- Texas 68
- Utah 7
- Vermont 7
- Virginia 38
- Washington 18
- West Virginia 15
- Wisconsin 28