Best Online Biology Programs in Jackson, MI (2026)

Jackson, Michigan has 5 accredited schools offering biology programs. Jackson has a population of about 31,206. Median household income is $42,848 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 15.3% 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 Jackson

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

#1

Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor, MI 8.2 miles from Jackson BOC Score 54.6
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,732
Avg net price $19,353/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 35

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Albion College

Albion, MI 17.3 miles from Jackson BOC Score 54.1
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 63%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $58,799
Avg net price $14,301/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 70%
  • Programs offered: 17

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Hillsdale College

Hillsdale, MI 24.6 miles from Jackson BOC Score 76.7
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 86%
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 96%
  • Programs offered: 9

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Adrian College

Adrian, MI 29.6 miles from Jackson BOC Score 42.1
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 52%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,504
Avg net price $25,368/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 63%
  • Programs offered: 42

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

The University of Olivet

Olivet, MI 29.9 miles from Jackson BOC Score 36.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 47%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $47,907
Avg net price $21,393/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 60%
  • Programs offered: 18

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Siena Heights University

Adrian, MI 30.5 miles from Jackson BOC Score 66.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 71%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $57,529
Avg net price $17,124/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 71%
  • Programs offered: 76

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI 34.0 miles from Jackson BOC Score 80.6
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 82%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $67,253
Avg net price $19,680/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 91%
  • Programs offered: 82

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI 34.3 miles from Jackson BOC Score 93.4
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 94%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $83,648
Avg net price $13,138/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 98%
  • Programs offered: 51

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Biology Wages Near Jackson

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Michigan, statewide)
Medical Scientist$84,310
Biological Technician$51,070
Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist$79,150
Soil and Plant Scientist$65,390

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.


Jackson at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population31,206Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$42,848Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+15.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)91.8 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Jackson-Area Cities With Biology Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited biology schools are near Jackson, MI?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering biology programs near Jackson. The closest is Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, MI (8.2 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is The University of Olivet (29.9 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying biology roles in Michigan?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying biology-related roles in Michigan are: Medical Scientist ($84,310), Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist ($79,150), Soil and Plant Scientist ($65,390). Wages for Jackson workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Adrian instead of Jackson?

Adrian, MI is 30.0 miles from Jackson 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 Jackson an affordable place to study biology?

Jackson’s median household income of $42,848 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Jackson 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

Other Programs Available in Jackson

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

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.