Best Online Biology Programs in South Bend, IN (2026)

South Bend, Indiana has 5 accredited schools offering biology programs, with tuition ranging from $36,600 to $50,881 per year for indexed programs. South Bend has a population of about 102,866. Median household income is $52,512 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 29.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Indiana, the top-earning biology-related role is Medical Scientist at a median $81,110 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Biology Schools to South Bend

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer biology programs near South Bend, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from South Bend 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 South Bend. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Indiana University-South Bend

South Bend, IN 2.5 miles from South Bend BOC Score 43.4
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 40%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $44,947
Avg net price $8,653/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 66%
  • Programs offered: 33

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Biology Wages Near South Bend

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Indiana, statewide)
Medical Scientist$81,110
Biological Technician$58,790
Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist$54,670
Soil and Plant Scientist$80,030

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.


South Bend at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population102,866Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$52,512Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+29.4%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)92.9 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other South Bend-Area Cities With Biology Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited biology schools are near South Bend, IN?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering biology programs near South Bend. The closest is Holy Cross College in Notre Dame, IN (1.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Bethel University (3.9 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying biology roles in Indiana?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying biology-related roles in Indiana are: Medical Scientist ($81,110), Soil and Plant Scientist ($80,030), Biological Technician ($58,790). Wages for South Bend workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Elkhart instead of South Bend?

Elkhart, IN is 15.9 miles from South Bend 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 South Bend an affordable place to study biology?

South Bend’s median household income of $52,512 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in South Bend while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Indiana 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 South Bend

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for South Bend:

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.