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Best Online Biology Programs in Grand Rapids, MI (2026)
Grand Rapids, Michigan has 5 accredited schools offering biology programs, with tuition ranging from $39,350 to $54,222 per year for indexed programs. Grand Rapids has a population of about 197,768. Median household income is $65,526 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 40.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Michigan, the top-earning biology-related role is Medical Scientist at a median $84,310 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Biology Schools to Grand Rapids
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer biology programs near Grand Rapids, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Grand Rapids city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
No school data available.
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Michigan schools on the Michigan biology page.
Biology Wages Near Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids is part of the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area (BLS area code 24340). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Michigan statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientist | $84,310 | MI statewide | $88,283 |
| Biological Technician | $51,240 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $53,654 |
| Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist | $79,150 | MI statewide | $82,880 |
| Soil and Plant Scientist | $57,160 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $59,853 |
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 Rapids at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 197,768 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $65,526 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 40.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 95.5 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Grand Rapids-Area Cities With Biology Programs
- Walker, MI – 4.8 mi away (24,775 pop)
- Wyoming, MI – 5.5 mi away (75,567 pop)
- Kentwood, MI – 6.2 mi away (51,689 pop)
- Holland, MI – 26.1 mi away (101,421 pop)
- Norton Shores, MI – 33.1 mi away (24,340 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited biology schools are near Grand Rapids, MI?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering biology programs near Grand Rapids. The closest is Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI (1.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Hope College (25.6 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying biology roles near Grand Rapids?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying biology-related roles near Grand Rapids are: Medical Scientist ($84,310), Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist ($79,150), Soil and Plant Scientist ($57,160). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Michigan statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Walker instead of Grand Rapids?
Walker, MI is 4.8 miles from Grand Rapids 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 Rapids an affordable place to study biology?
Grand Rapids’s median household income of $65,526 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Grand Rapids while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Michigan 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
- Is a Biology degree worth it?
- Main Biology degree guide
- Online Biology programs in Michigan
- Biology programs by state
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Data verified: August 10, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.