Best Online Biology Programs in Grand Junction, CO (2026)

Grand Junction, Colorado has 2 accredited schools offering biology programs. Grand Junction has a population of about 67,027. Median household income is $66,676 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 36.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Grand Junction, CO metro area, the top-earning biology-related role is Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist at a median $84,360 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Biology Schools to Grand Junction

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer biology programs near Grand Junction, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Grand Junction city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Grand Junction. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Colorado Mesa University

Grand Junction, CO 0.7 miles from Grand Junction BOC Score 56.7
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,823
Avg net price $15,103/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 76

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Colorado schools on the Colorado biology page.


Biology Wages Near Grand Junction

Grand Junction is part of the Grand Junction, CO metro area (BLS area code 24300). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Colorado statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Medical ScientistN/ACO statewide
Biological Technician$51,630Grand Junction, CO$54,063
Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist$84,360Grand Junction, CO$88,335
Soil and Plant Scientist$75,430CO statewide$78,984

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Grand Junction at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population67,027Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$66,676Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+36.1%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)95.5 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Grand Junction-Area Cities With Biology Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited biology schools are near Grand Junction, CO?

Our directory has 2 accredited schools offering biology programs near Grand Junction. The closest is Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, CO (0.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Western Colorado University (96.2 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying biology roles near Grand Junction?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying biology-related roles near Grand Junction are: Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist ($84,360), Soil and Plant Scientist ($75,430), Biological Technician ($51,630). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Colorado statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Montrose instead of Grand Junction?

Montrose, CO is 57.3 miles from Grand Junction and has its own set of local biology programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Grand Junction an affordable place to study biology?

Grand Junction’s median household income of $66,676 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Grand Junction while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Colorado public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.


Learn More About Biology Programs

Other Programs Available in Grand Junction

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Grand Junction:

Data verified: July 30, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.