BIOLOGY SCHOLARSHIPS

Middlebury College is one of the most highly ranked liberal arts colleges in the country, and the strength of its biology program reflects this stature. In terms of facilities, Middlebury is in a class of its own. With a greenhouse, cell imaging facility, DNA sequencing facility, and a devoted research forest, Middlebury is never short of opportunities for hands-on learning. In fact, you'll start developing research techniques from your first day in this top small college's biology program. By exposing students to the world of research in introductory courses, Middlebury ensures that its undergrads can take advantage of its expansive resources as soon as possible.

Unlike the vast majority of schools on this list, Colorado College does not even offer a general biology degree. At this top small college for biology majors, students instead choose between a degree in Molecular Biology or Organismal Biology and Ecology. As you might expect, these majors diverge in content as well as delivery method. The former is a "laboratory rich" program, where students devote most of their efforts to developing lab skills (e.g. gram staining, centrifuging, etc.) that will aid them in the study of microscopic forms. The latter, on the other hand, devotes a significant portion of the curriculum to field research courses at the CC Cabin on Pikes Peak.

With an average net price of just over $20,000 a year, Chatham University is one of the most affordable colleges for a biology degree. The women's college contributes to the low costs its students face by participating in a number of merit-based scholarship programs. For biology majors in particular, the university participates in the NSF-funded S-STEM initiative, which offers $10,000 annual awards (renewable for up to four years) to help aspiring biologists and biochemists pursue their education. Either way, Chatham's low prices and great reputation in the scientific community all but guarantees a great return on any your investment.

Located in the middle of 1,100 acres of undeveloped forestland in upstate New York, Colgate University is the perfect candidate for a top undergraduate biology program. The surrounding natural splendor provides an exceptional site for biological research. This research, in fact, is the foundation of the undergraduate biology experience at Colgate. Whether in the form of a paid assistantship during the school year, funded independent research over the summer, or for course credit, Colgate encourages every biology student to pursue his or her unique interests through creative and hands-on learning.

Tucked away in Liberty, Missouri, William Jewell College's top small college biology program is one of the best-kept secrets in higher education. Its traditional biology and biochemistry programs are impressive, to be sure, but it's the school's Oxbridge and Dr. William Jewell Scholars Programs that really stand out. If accepted into one of these programs, you'll gain access to the types of exceptional education experiences truly befitting this list. In the Oxbridge initiative, a small group of high-performing students participate in a tutorial-style program modeled after courses at Oxford and Cambridge (hence the portmanteau). The WJS program, in contrast, serves as an honors pre-medical track and provides accelerated/early-admission to the Kansas City University of Medicine.

Often considered a "Little Ivy" alongside Amherst and Williams Colleges, there's little doubt that Wesleyan University is among the top liberal arts colleges in the nation. So perhaps it is needless to say that Wesleyan ranks among the best colleges for a biology degree, as well. In addition to a multitude of required writing-intensive lab courses, all biology majors must complete a "Capstone Experience." Taking the form of an experiential project, this course can include anything from science-based fieldwork to participation in faculty research. Looking for an extra challenge? Wesleyan also offers an Honors program within the biology major that requires original thesis work in mathematical modeling, computation, or laboratory research.

Like many other top colleges for a biology degree, Franklin and Marshall offers a selection of study abroad opportunities, interdisciplinary majors, and undergraduate research opportunities that would appeal to anyone with even a hint of interest in the biological sciences. Given these qualifications, it's almost impossible to deny that FMC would be a great choice for any student looking to study biology at an affordable small college. But FMC also claims a few distinct features that set it apart from the crowd. One example is its student-run Porter Scientific Society, which arranges seminars and colloquia for biology majors and even supports educational trips around the country.

Without a doubt, the California Institute of Technology is one of the most prestigious and competitive educational and research institutions in the sciences. And its Biology and Biological Engineering (BBE) Division is no exception. In fact, this division alone boasts "more than 50 faculty research laboratories" as well as nine Nobel Prizes and 10 National Medals of Science (awarded to both faculty and alumni). While these achievements alone can't prove that CalTech is the best small college for biology majors, they certainly speak to the caliber of students one can expect to find at this school.

When people talk about the Illinois Institute of Technology, they typically mention its world-class engineering and computer science programs. But flying under the radar at this top tech school are several equally robust programs in the biological sciences, including majors in Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, and Biology and Psychology. Many of these affordable undergraduate biology programs build on the strengths of this technical college to provide students with a unique perspective on biology—an invaluable qualification in an increasingly competitive job market. IIT also offers 5-year dual-BS/MS programs in all of its biology programs to help you accelerate the pace of your learning.

Like many of the other schools on this list, Andrews University supports an array of novel interdisciplinary programs in the biological sciences, including Biochemistry and Biotechnology. But Andrews' true appeal lies in its general biology major. This competitive program offers a host of resources designed to optimize your success, from BioBoost (a preemptive crash course for entering freshmen) to cross country field trips. Past excursions have taken students as far away as the Field Museum in Chicago and even the Florida Everglades! And in the end, it is this commitment to student engagement outside the classroom that qualifies Andrews as a top college for a biology degree.

Popular publications like Forbes and The Washington Monthly have consistently praised Hiram as one of the best value colleges in the country. It's no surprise, then, that the school also makes the grade for our affordable biology degrees ranking. But a competitive price isn't that only quality that defines Hiram as a leading destination for aspiring biologists. Despite its diminutive size of just 1,100 students, Hiram features two unique field stations for biological research: the J.H. Barrow Field Station and the Northwoods Field Station. The former lies just three miles from campus and features over 500 acres of natural habitats for study. But for the latter, you'll have to take a much longer trip - to the upper peninsula of Michigan!

While Barnard College is perhaps best known as the sister school of founding Ivy, Columbia University, it doesn't rely on this connection to earn its place as a top small college for biology majors. An impressive program in its own right, Barnard's biology department features a rigorous combination of lectures, laboratory courses, and independent research projects. As a student, your efforts will culminate in the Biology Senior Theses, a highly competitive presentation of challenging research that you undertake alongside a faculty mentor. Students whose work falls outside the purview of general biology can also find refuge in interdisciplinary degree programs like Biochemistry and Neuroscience.

La Sierra University's degree offerings run the gamut of the biological sciences. From Biomedical Science and Psychobiology to Biomathematics and Biophysics, there's scarcely a stone that the collective faculty at La Sierra have left unturned. But as much as there is to learn in these programs, the real education at La Sierra takes place outside of the classroom. Experiential learning - and undergraduate research - especially is the cornerstone of this top small college's biology program. Recent student projects have included the genetic analysis of 3,000-year-old human bones and the discovery of a new species of gecko.

Like Eastern, Walla Walla University is a faith-driven institution that encourages equal devotion to faith and empirical skepticism. But what makes Walla Walla one of the best colleges for a biology degree is the intimacy and personalized nature of the curriculum and student resources. Like many small colleges, Walla Walla's limited undergraduate enrollment allows it to offer class sizes of well below 20 students on average - and below 15 for advanced classes. This close proximity between classmates and faculty also encourages collaborative research, which a significant percentage of biology majors participate in each year.

Faith and science converge at Eastern University, a school with a strong undergraduate biology program and an even stronger belief in the goodness of God. Some schools inevitably compromise either their religious values or scientific rigor in order to reconcile these sometimes conflicting positions - but not Eastern. Rather, the university encourages students and faculty alike to develop their own world views under the influence of both Biblical and empirical scrutiny. The result is an unprecedented selection of opportunities for Christian students to engage in scientific discovery. One particularly intriguing option is the bilingual Spanish/Biology program, which provides research opportunities in Costa Rica and Mexico!

Florida Southern College's top small college biology programs are an excellent gateway to academia, medicine, and a wealth of other promising career opportunities. With undergraduate degrees in Biology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Marine Biology, Environmental Science, and the "nation's only bachelor's degree program [devoted] specifically [to] Citrus," FSU caters to interests you may not even realize you have yet! To top it all off, students in these programs often find internships at local organizations where they can jump-start their careers. Past internship placements have included popular organizations like the Lowry Park Zoo, Mote Marine Library, and the Center for Cancer Care and Research.

It would be virtually impossible to list all of the reasons that Smith College is one of the best colleges for a biology degree in such a short space. For starters, admission to Smith is SAT-optional. After completing the stress-reduced application process, you can start planning for the Junior Year Abroad program (in which nearly 50% of your classmates will participate), and a guaranteed year of internship funding. But these benefits are campus wide; for biology students in particular, Smith features one of the most comprehensive and flexible programs in the country. Not only can you explore the diverse disciplines of ecology, genetics, and statistics, but you can also acquire a unique specialization in one of five tracks, such as Integrative Biology or Biology and Education.

Like Connecticut College, Washington & Jefferson College features a wide range of exciting programs in the biological sciences. Many of them (Biochemistry, Forensic Science, and Biological Physics, for example) are interdisciplinary in nature. And indeed, it is the depth of study available through these degrees that entitle W&J to a top biology degrees ranking. But that's only half of what makes this school such a great choice for aspiring biologists. The other half is W&J's own Abernathy Field Station, a 57-acre living classroom that houses multifarious ecosystems and a staggering breadth of flora, fauna, and everything in between.

With an impressive array of majors, concentrations, and degree programs in the biological sciences, Connecticut College easily ranks among the best small colleges for biology majors. At Connecticut, you can choose from traditional programs like Botany and Biology or more interdisciplinary programs like Biochemistry. Even the supposedly "basic" Biology major comes with plenty of bells and whistles, including specializations in Ecology and Cellular and Molecular Biology. And as if all these choices weren't enough, CC encourages students to expand their scientific knowledge beyond the horizon by studying abroad at associated universities all over the world.

Just this past summer, Kenyon College made headlines when it received nearly a million dollars in funding from the National Science Foundation to study "high-impact practices" for STEM students. While the full effects of this ample grant remains to be seen, Kenyon's Biology Department stands to benefit tremendously from the additional support. Of course, the college already offers a superior education in the biological sciences, complete with a rigorous capstone requirement, or Senior Exercise, for biology and molecular biology majors. But with the additional "high-impact practices" that the school has planned - which include funding for student research, internships, and other "community-based and collaborative projects," there's little doubt Kenyon will continue to rise in national biology degree rankings.

Biology is one of the most popular degree programs available at Rhodes College. And it's no wonder; the combination of a challenging curriculum and a wealth of research and internship opportunities is too good for any serious bio student to pass up. Rhodes College's affordable undergraduate biology program itself sponsors a dozen or so student-led research projects during the school year, as well as additional work over the summer (when more funding is available). And with the college's scholastic reputation, you can rest assured that your work will have real impact. Past undergraduate projects have earned recognition in the Rhodes Journal of Biological Sciences as well as at the Tennessee Academy of Sciences' regional meeting and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research.

Like the Claremont Consortium, Simmons Colleges is host to a number of degree programs that full under the banner of the biological sciences. From General Biology to Public Health, Environmental, and even Exercise Science, students at Simmons have an exceptional opportunity to explore their interests within the realm of biology. But despite the diverse nature of the college's bioscience curriculum, all of its programs share a strong emphasis on hands-on learning - and that includes laboratory work and internships. And at the end of the day, it's this commitment to both educational breadth and depth that makes Simmons one of the best colleges for a biology degree.

Representing three of the five members of the Claremont Consortium, Pitzer, Scripps, and Claremont McKenna Colleges all share degree programs within the prestigious W.M. Keck Science Department. Although certain majors in the biological sciences technically belong to individual schools, it will be a superficial distinction from your perspective. After all, any student within the consortium can take science classes at any of the five colleges. And yet, the academic programs themselves are anything but superficial. With top undergraduate biology programs in fields that include Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Human Biology, and Molecular Biology, you are free to pursue whatever field of study your biological heart desires.

St. Lawrence University offers a comprehensive yet affordable undergraduate biology program that covers a broad spectrum of topics in the field. Spanning laboratory and field research, molecular/organismal biology, and evolution and ecology, St. Lawrence's undergraduate biology curriculum is the perfect primer for budding scientists and doctors. Students also develop their facility with language and data analysis by producing scientific papers for class as well as the nationally published journal, BIOS. Those interested in an integrated Pre-Med curriculum can even work with advisors within the Biology Department to develop a course of study that satisfies admissions requirements for medical school.

The University of the Sciences' low student-faculty ratio and high availability of undergraduate research opportunities makes it a top small college for biology majors. With just over 1500 undergraduates in the entire school, biology students at USciences are all but guaranteed to receive the attention from faculty and administrators they need to succeed. This personalized approach to education also extends to minors and degree specializations, which cover popular topics like Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, Microbiology, and Neuroscience. Whether you're interested in pursuing a career in medicine, dentistry, or even veterinary science, a degree in biology from USciences is a tried and true pathway to graduate school and beyond.