Fafsa, Pell grant, financial aid

[sanantone]

Since you already have an Associates, ASU should be only two more years - and with the Pell Grant (works as a tuition discount) is not a bad cost for a RA BS in Biology from a respected university.  Also, with your career plans a BS (vs a BA) is the way to go.

BS vs. BA makes no difference.

Speaking of BA vs. BS, I would recommend University of Florida's online BA over ASU's online BS because UF has a much better reputation in biology at the undergraduate level and a much better reputation overall. UF does have an online BS in Microbiology that might be more relevant to the work you want to do.

The OP is concerned about cost, the UF program you are speaking of is far more expensive at a $552 Per Credit cost https://ufonline.ufl.edu/tuition

Where I'm located a BS vs BA could matter in a STEM major, such as biology; it is possible in the southern US it would not impact one professionally.

I know UF is a little more expensive, but if I had to choose between the two, I would choose UF even though the general biology program is a BA. 

Ultimately, what matters is the courses that are taken because there is no hard rule on classifying a degree as a BA or BS. Some schools, such as Harvard, do not offer BS programs for liberal arts subjects. A Harvard grad is going to beat out an ASU grad with all else being equal. 

Who would be better prepared for the job? Someone who earned a BA in Biology from TESU or someone who earned a BS in Natural Science/Biology from Excelsior? The TESU student is required to take physics I and II, chemistry I and II, biology I and II, and organic chemistry I and II all with labs. The Excelsior program doesn't require any of those. If one wants to become a medical laboratory scientist, then ASCP certification should be the ultimate goal, and ASCP doesn't care if you have a BA or BS.