Online Biology Degree Programs

With an online biology degree, you can study a vast range of subjects. Of course these degrees include classes on animal and human anatomy, but also microbiology, genetics, ecology, and more.

Some degrees also mold students into biology teachers, research managers, and other professionals. Experts in these roles can help advance our knowledge of humans and other forms of life.

From aspiring students with no college experience to biology pros who want to advance their careers, there is an online biology degree for everyone.

ARTICLE NAVIGATION:

• Online Biology Degrees: Associate | Bachelor | Bachelor Completion | Graduate Certificate | Master’s
• Accreditation for Online Biology Degrees
• Can Biology Degrees Online Meet Licensing Requirements for Biology Careers?
• Licensure and Certification for Biology Professionals
• Career Outlook with an Online Biology Degree
• Expected Salary for Biology Professionals

Associate

With an associate’s online biology degree, students can start a career in two or three years. Only a high school diploma or GED is required to get started. Associate’s degrees in biology can lead to biological technician jobs, although they normally require a bachelor’s.

While these online biology degrees can lead directly to jobs, many are intended to transfer into a bachelor’s program. The Associate in Science in Biology from Allen County Community College is one such program that prepares students for upper-level classes. With an associate’s, students can typically transfer into bachelor’s degrees at the junior level, rather than starting as a freshman.

Costs for online biology associate degrees are fairly reasonable. Accredited programs in our database range from $7,000 to $20,000. Compare the programs on GetEducated.com to find the best degree for your needs and budget.

Bachelor

A bachelor level online biology degree is the standard education for many biology-related jobs. Microbiologists, marine biologists, agricultural scientists, clinical lab technologists, and foresters all require a four-year degree.

Which career a graduate qualifies for depends on the type of online biology degree. A biology bachelor’s degree can include natural sciences or human biology. It can also be a teaching degree. Central Methodist University, for instance, offers a bachelor’s degree in secondary education focusing on biology. This program trains students to become high school science teachers.

You can find bachelor’s online biology degrees in a range of price points. The lowest cost for an accredited program is about $15,500. Meanwhile, the highest is more than double the price at $34,000. The information on GetEducated.com can help you sort through your options.

Bachelor Completion

These online biology degrees allow students who have completed an associate’s degree to finish a bachelor’s program in roughly two years rather than four. They can lead to careers including work as a microbiologist or biological technician. With experience, graduates can become natural science managers.

To enroll, students must have an associate’s degree or previous college coursework. Tuition costs will depend on the amount of credits you are able to transfer into the program. The more you have already completed, the fewer classes you will need to finish. Therefore, the bachelor completion portion of your education will come with a lower price tag.

These biology degrees are mostly online but do have in-person requirements. The Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Cell Science from the University of Florida, for example, requires in-person organic chemistry and lab courses.

Graduate Certificate

A graduate certificate in biology is for professionals who want to stay at the forefront of biological research. Available entirely online, they can be completed by those working in research, such as a biological technician. Others who can benefit from these programs include science teachers who want to keep their knowledge up-to-date.

These online biology degrees are also useful for those planning to complete a master’s degree. Classes completed in the Graduate Certificate in Biology from Western Kentucky, for example, can transfer to a master’s program. These have fewer course requirements than full degrees. The Graduate Certificate in Biology for Educators from North Carolina State University at Raleigh is 12 credit hours. The Graduate Certificate in Biology from Western Kentucky requires 15 credit hours.

Master’s

A master’s level online biology degree program provides a wealth of career options. While few jobs in biology and science require a master’s, these programs allow you to advance your career. An online biology degree will increase your knowledge and prepare you for leadership roles in scientific research, conservation, policy, and more.

To enroll, students need a bachelor’s degree in biology or a related field. Many biology degree programs can be completed entirely online. Some are designed to prepare students to enter into a doctorate program. A doctoral degree is the required education for medical scientists and other research-based professions.

Some of these online biology degrees have a special focus. For example, the Master of Arts for Teachers in Biology from Indiana University Online is for those who want to educate undergrad biology students.

A master’s degree requires 30 to 40 credit hours over two or three years. Costs vary greatly depending on the school and program, so research your options carefully using the resources on GetEducated.com. Accredited online programs can be found for less than $15,000. Other programs, however, can cost more than $50,000 in tuition and fees.

The process of verifying a school and a program to make sure they meet educational standards is called accreditation. This is an essential component of a quality education. An entire school can be accredited by regional or national groups. This is known as institutional accreditation. There is also programmatic accreditation, which approves individual programs.

There is no one body that accredits online biology degree programs. There are, however, a handful of groups that review various degrees related to biology and science. One of the biggest is the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission (ANSAC). This group is part of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). ANSAC reviews degrees in science, agriculture, and biology, although they are not a biology-specific organization. Another important group is the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). This group accredits bachelor’s degrees in this field.

No group accredits online biology degrees as a whole. Many programs will thus only have institutional accreditation. For students, it’s important that you verify institutional accreditation before enrolling. Online biology degrees are accredited the same as in-person programs, so there is no difference based on how you study.

Resources:

• Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
• American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Yes. In the rare cases where it is required, these online biology degrees qualify grads for licensing tests. For example, microbiologists in California need licensing for certain lab work. Accredited online biology degrees in a related subject will meet the academic requirements for this license.

Licensing is rarely required for biology-related professions. Microbiologists, biological technicians, and natural science managers are examples of roles that do not require licenses.

Although rare, a few positions do have licensing requirements. For example, a soil scientist may need licensing depending on the state where they work.

In another example, California has a licensing requirement for clinical microbiologists. The Clinical Microbiologist Scientist License allows professionals to perform testing in a certified lab.

Here is the process for obtaining this license:

1. Complete a bachelor’s degree or higher in microbiology or a related field.
2. Undergo at least one year of training or work experience in microbiology or a similar field.
3. Take and pass the ASCP certification exam and a test on California state lab laws.
4. Once you receive approval, you must renew your license every two years.

Resources:

• Clinical Microbiologist Scientist License - California

The job outlook for online biology degree grads is strong, even if the field won’t see huge growth. Most roles are expected to see growth just above the national average for all jobs, which is predicted at 5% between 2021 and 2031.

Biological technicians, for example, will see an overall growth of 9%. In 2021, just over 84,000 people were working in this profession. By 2031 that number will climb to 92,000.

Microbiologists will see the same growth rate, although total numbers are less. With a 9% increase, this career will grow from 20,800 jobs to 22,600. That’s an increase of 1,900 positions.

Natural science managers will grow by 6%, just above the national average. There are expected to be over 83,000 positions by 2031.

With specialized courses, an online biology degree graduate could become a wildlife biologist or zoologist. However, this is a small career field expecting only 1% growth, going from 17,100 jobs to 17,200 jobs.

The states of Maryland and Massachusetts bring the most options for biology professionals. When looking at employment per 1,000 jobs, Maryland is #1 for microbiologists (0.86), #4 for biological technicians (1.56), and #4 for natural science managers (1.17). Massachusetts is #2 for microbiologists (0.81), #2 for biological technicians (1.65), and #5 for natural science managers (1.17). Alaska is high on the list for both zoologists and wildlife biologists (#1, 2.38), as well as natural science managers (3, 1.84).

Resources:

• BLS - Microbiologists
• BLS - Biological Technicians
• BLS - Natural Sciences Managers
• BLS - Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists

The salary for someone educated with an online biology degree can vary widely. They should, at the very least, earn a comfortable living, while some can expect very impressive salaries.

Biological technicians earn a median salary of $48,140. They often need a bachelor’s but may be able to start with an associate’s degree. Their pay rate is slightly above the national median for all occupations of $45,760. The top 10% in this career earn over $78,090.

Microbiologists can expect higher salaries. The median annual earnings are $79,260, which is a fairly strong salary for a bachelor’s-level career. The top 10% earn more than $136,000 annually.

With professional experience, biology students can also become natural science managers. This profession has a median salary of $137,900, with the top 10% earning over $208,000 a year.

Biology professionals in Massachusetts can expect excellent salaries. The state is #1 in median salary for microbiologists ($92,830), biological technicians ($62,610), natural science managers ($218,850), and wildlife biologists ($92,830).

Whether you want to start your college education with an associate’s or advance your career with a master’s, you will find the resources you need at GetEducated.com. Submit your information today, and we’ll help you find the right online biology degree for your budget, schedule, and goals.