Best Online Biology Programs in Muskegon, MI (2026)

Muskegon, Michigan has 5 accredited schools offering biology programs, with tuition ranging from $39,350 to $54,222 per year for indexed programs. Muskegon has a population of about 37,203. Median household income is $46,342 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 15.8% 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 Muskegon

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

#1

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, MI 26.0 miles from Muskegon BOC Score 65.8
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 66%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,118
Avg net price $16,317/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 58

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Hope College

Holland, MI 31.4 miles from Muskegon BOC Score 59.9
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 80%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $58,427
Avg net price $27,182/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 89%
  • Programs offered: 17

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Aquinas College

Grand Rapids, MI 36.5 miles from Muskegon BOC Score 46.8
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 90%
Graduation rate 64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,584
Avg net price $16,626/yr
Tuition
In‑state$40,218
Out‑of‑state$40,218
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 23

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Cornerstone University

Grand Rapids, MI 37.5 miles from Muskegon BOC Score 56.4
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $47,314
Avg net price $20,301/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 81%
  • Programs offered: 37

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Calvin University

Grand Rapids, MI 39.8 miles from Muskegon BOC Score 71.1
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 71%
Graduation rate 76%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $58,375
Avg net price $22,992/yr
Tuition
In‑state$39,350
Out‑of‑state$39,350
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 88%
  • Programs offered: 42

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MI 49.9 miles from Muskegon BOC Score 64.7
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,735
Avg net price $8,624/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 95

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Kalamazoo College

Kalamazoo, MI 72.8 miles from Muskegon BOC Score 67.8
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 78%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $65,590
Avg net price $19,072/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 84%
  • Programs offered: 3

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI 73.0 miles from Muskegon BOC Score 63.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 61%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $53,562
Avg net price $15,273/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 105

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Biology Wages Near Muskegon

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.


Muskegon at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population37,203Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$46,342Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+15.8%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)92.5 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Muskegon-Area Cities With Biology Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited biology schools are near Muskegon, MI?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering biology programs near Muskegon. The closest is Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI (26.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Calvin University (39.8 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 Muskegon workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Norton Shores instead of Muskegon?

Norton Shores, MI is 4.6 miles from Muskegon 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 Muskegon an affordable place to study biology?

Muskegon’s median household income of $46,342 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Muskegon 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 Muskegon

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

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 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.