New Jersey Community Colleges
Biology Programs
Biology coursework across community colleges in this state. Anatomy, microbiology, and pre-health science transfer pathways.
7 colleges · 748 sections · 80 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Biology coursework at New Jersey community colleges sits at the foot of the pre-health pipeline: pre-nursing, pre-med, pre-pharmacy, pre-dental, and pre-PT students all complete their lower-division biology — anatomy, physiology, microbiology, general biology — at community college tuition rates before transferring or applying to professional programs. The 748 sections across 7 NJ County Colleges institutions this term include the lab-heavy sequences that admissions committees specifically look for.
A standalone biology associate isn't directly career-track — most biology careers require a bachelor's or graduate degree — but the credits transfer cleanly to four-year biology programs in New Jersey, and the lab experience builds the foundation health-profession schools expect. Compare colleges below for online vs in-person section availability; many programs require live lab attendance even when lecture is online.
Earnings & outcomes for Biology graduates
Federal College Scorecard data on what graduates of this program actually earn after completion. Where a school’s cohort is too small to publish, we show the national benchmark for the same field of study.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, per-program (4-digit CIP) data. CIP 2601 — Biology, General. School cohorts are suppressed by the federal source when fewer than ~30 completers in the reporting cohort.
Colleges offering Biology
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCNJ Union College | 223 | 19 | 87 | 48 | — |
| Rowan College at Burlington County | 113 | 21 | 70 | — | — |
| Bergen Community College | 112 | 15 | 3 | — | — |
| Hudson County Community College | 94 | 14 | 43 | — | — |
| Essex County College | 87 | 12 | — | 70 | $42,017 |
| Raritan Valley Community College | 61 | 13 | — | — | — |
| Atlantic Cape Community College | 58 | 15 | 3 | 21 | — |
Biology Availability Snapshot
How biology sections are being offered across 7 colleges in New Jersey this term (748 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person529 (71%)
- online203 (27%)
- hybrid13 (2%)
- zoom3 (0%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)290
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)95
- Evening (5 PM and after)116
- Asynchronous / TBA247
Start dates
Sections begin on 13 distinct dates. 67 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 143 distinct instructors across 7 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Bergen Community College1 program
Subtotal: 8 Credits
8 creditsSee catalog for course list
Subtotal: 8 Credits
8 creditsSee catalog for course list
Subtotal: 3 Credits
3 creditsSee catalog for course list
Source: College catalog
Common Biology courses
- BIO 101Fundamentals of Biology(59 sections)
- BIO 105Phage Discovery(48 sections)
- BIOL 105Anatomy & Physiology I Lab(47 sections)
- BIO 111Fund Anat & Phys I Lab(44 sections)
- BIO 109Anat&Physiology I(37 sections)
- BIO 121Anatomy & Physiology I(28 sections)
- BIO 102Fundamentals of Biology Lab(27 sections)
- BIOL 106Anat & Physiology II Lab(24 sections)
- BIO 106Anatomy & Physiology II(22 sections)
- BIOL 124HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY I(22 sections)
- BIO 108Microbiology(21 sections)
- BIO 211Microbiology(21 sections)
Frequently asked questions
- Can I take pre-med biology courses at a community college?
- Yes, and many med-school applicants do — at lower tuition and often with smaller class sizes than at a four-year. The caveat: med schools sometimes prefer to see at least the upper-division biology (cell, genetics, biochemistry) taken at a four-year institution. Talk to a pre-health advisor early; the strategy varies by which med schools you're targeting.
- Do biology lab credits transfer to a bachelor's program?
- Usually yes for general bio, anatomy, physiology, and microbiology — the standard pre-health four. Specialized labs (organic chemistry lab, biochemistry lab, upper-division cell biology lab) often need to be retaken at the four-year because the lab equipment and protocols differ. Confirm with the target program before enrolling.
- What can I do with just a biology associate degree?
- Limited but real: biological technician roles (lab tech at research institutions, pharma quality-control, environmental monitoring), some health-care support roles (medical assistant if combined with appropriate certifications), and entry-level government inspection roles. The strongest direct-career CC pathways for the bio-curious are nursing, dental hygiene, and medical lab technology — career-track programs rather than the transfer-track biology associate.
- How long is the biology associate?
- Two years full-time. Pre-health students often take it in 2.5–3 years to fit in the additional chemistry and physics courses that med, PT, dental, and pharmacy schools require in addition to the standard biology sequence.
Compare Biology programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how New Jersey’s biology programs stack up.
Other programs in New Jersey
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.