Best Online Biology Programs in Austin, MN (2026)

Austin, Minnesota has 5 accredited schools offering biology programs, with tuition ranging from $6,653 to $84,893 per year for indexed programs. Austin has a population of about 26,167. Median household income is $66,488 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 23.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Minnesota, the top-earning biology-related role is Medical Scientist at a median $89,950 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Biology Schools to Austin

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

#1

Riverland Community College

Austin, MN 1.4 miles from Austin BOC Score 59.3
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 42%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,247
Avg net price $7,427/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 73

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Biology Wages Near Austin

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Minnesota, statewide)
Medical Scientist$89,950
Biological Technician$48,130
Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist$68,620
Soil and Plant Scientist$79,610

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.


Austin at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population26,167Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$66,488Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+23.2%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Austin-Area Cities With Biology Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited biology schools are near Austin, MN?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering biology programs near Austin. The closest is Riverland Community College in Austin, MN (1.4 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Carleton College (55.3 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying biology roles in Minnesota?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying biology-related roles in Minnesota are: Medical Scientist ($89,950), Soil and Plant Scientist ($79,610), Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist ($68,620). Wages for Austin workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Owatonna instead of Austin?

Owatonna, MN is 31.7 miles from Austin 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 Austin an affordable place to study biology?

Austin’s median household income of $66,488 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Austin while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Minnesota 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 Austin

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

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.