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Best Online Biology Programs in Columbia, MO (2026)
Columbia, Missouri has 5 accredited schools offering biology programs, with tuition ranging from $25,826 to $37,207 per year for indexed programs. Columbia has a population of about 127,200. Median household income is $64,488 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 56.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Missouri, the top-earning biology-related role is Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist at a median $76,400 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Biology Schools to Columbia
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer biology programs near Columbia, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Columbia 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 Missouri schools on the Missouri biology page.
Biology Wages Near Columbia
Columbia is part of the Columbia, MO metro area (BLS area code 17860). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Missouri statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientist | $75,870 | Columbia, MO | $84,866 |
| Biological Technician | $51,630 | Columbia, MO | $57,752 |
| Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist | $76,400 | MO statewide | $85,459 |
| Soil and Plant Scientist | $76,080 | MO statewide | $85,101 |
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.
Columbia at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 127,200 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $64,488 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 56.5% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 89.4 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Columbia-Area Cities With Biology Programs
- Jefferson City, MO – 27.5 mi away (58,439 pop)
- Sedalia, MO – 51.7 mi away (26,302 pop)
- Rolla, MO – 75.7 mi away (20,692 pop)
- Warrensburg, MO – 76.5 mi away (22,227 pop)
- Wentzville, MO – 79.0 mi away (37,395 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited biology schools are near Columbia, MO?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering biology programs near Columbia. The closest is Stephens College in Columbia, MO (0.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is William Woods University (21.1 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying biology roles near Columbia?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying biology-related roles near Columbia are: Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist ($76,400), Soil and Plant Scientist ($76,080), Medical Scientist ($75,870). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Missouri statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Jefferson City instead of Columbia?
Jefferson City, MO is 27.5 miles from Columbia 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 Columbia an affordable place to study biology?
Columbia’s median household income of $64,488 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Columbia while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Missouri 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 Missouri
- 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.