Best Online Biology Programs in Wisconsin Rapids, WI (2026)

Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin has 5 accredited schools offering biology programs, with tuition ranging from $56,982 to $69,849 per year for indexed programs. Wisconsin Rapids has a population of about 18,756. Median household income is $54,116 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 16.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Wisconsin, the top-earning biology-related role is Medical Scientist at a median $82,530 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Biology Schools to Wisconsin Rapids

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

#1

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Stevens Point, WI 15.6 miles from Wisconsin Rapids BOC Score 58.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 59%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,021
Avg net price $14,559/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 36

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Ripon College

Ripon, WI 61.8 miles from Wisconsin Rapids BOC Score 46.2
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 61%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,902
Avg net price $20,216/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 74%
  • Programs offered: 11

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Oshkosh, WI 68.1 miles from Wisconsin Rapids BOC Score 59.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,548
Avg net price $14,305/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 71%
  • Programs offered: 51

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Lawrence University

Appleton, WI 72.5 miles from Wisconsin Rapids BOC Score 59.4
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 64%
Graduation rate 77%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,789
Avg net price $23,401/yr
Tuition
In‑state$56,982
Out‑of‑state$56,982
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 87%
  • Programs offered: 4

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

La Crosse, WI 80.3 miles from Wisconsin Rapids BOC Score 75.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 71%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $60,378
Avg net price $16,210/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 86%
  • Programs offered: 27

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Viterbo University

La Crosse, WI 81.3 miles from Wisconsin Rapids BOC Score 58.8
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 66%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,660
Avg net price $21,260/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 28

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Marian University

Fond Du Lac, WI 82.0 miles from Wisconsin Rapids BOC Score 47.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 75%
Graduation rate 43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $53,501
Avg net price $21,937/yr
Tuition
In‑state$35,178
Out‑of‑state$35,178
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 65%
  • Programs offered: 42

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Saint Norbert College

De Pere, WI 86.9 miles from Wisconsin Rapids BOC Score 56.2
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 74%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $58,363
Avg net price $26,172/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 22

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Biology Wages Near Wisconsin Rapids

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Wisconsin, statewide)
Medical Scientist$82,530
Biological Technician$51,750
Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist$68,370
Soil and Plant Scientist$66,200

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.


Wisconsin Rapids at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population18,756Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$54,116Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+16.9%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Wisconsin Rapids-Area Cities With Biology Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited biology schools are near Wisconsin Rapids, WI?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering biology programs near Wisconsin Rapids. The closest is University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in Stevens Point, WI (15.6 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (80.3 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying biology roles in Wisconsin?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying biology-related roles in Wisconsin are: Medical Scientist ($82,530), Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist ($68,370), Soil and Plant Scientist ($66,200). Wages for Wisconsin Rapids workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Stevens Point instead of Wisconsin Rapids?

Stevens Point, WI is 16.3 miles from Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Rapids an affordable place to study biology?

Wisconsin Rapids’s median household income of $54,116 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Wisconsin Rapids while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Rapids

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

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.