by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,833 U.S. colleges awarded 187,103 degrees and certificates in Biological & Biomedical Sciences. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 74% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1,391 schools in its 2027 Best Biological & Biomedical Sciences Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $34,863 one year after completing, rising to $62,787 after four years.
Biological and Biomedical Sciences is all about studying life. You will learn how molecules become cells and how cells become organisms. With many options for majors and concentrations, this is a great field for students who love math, science, nature and the environment.
During your classes you will be required to collect data from the lab and the field. This involves getting outdoors into forests and rivers, as well as examining specimens in the laboratory and under the microscope. You will get very intimate with all different kinds of organisms and explore their populations and their environment. This major is for a student who is ready to work hard in order to gain a strong foundation in biology with strong content knowledge in chemistry, physics, and mathematics.
Students can major in General Biology. However, you also have the opportunity to pick a more specialized major. Ecology involves learning about interactions of living and nonliving things in all sorts of ecosystems. Neurobiology and Neuroscience allows you to study the way the brain functions and the importance of the nervous system as well as the evolution of the brain. If you are more interested in exploring the animal kingdom you may choose to major in Zoology. Students with a more medical bent might be interested in Microbiology Sciences and Immunology, where they will get the chance to study bacteria and infectious disease.
Explore additional the majors in this field of study to see what peaks your interests.
A degree in Biological & Biomedical Sciences explores Biological And Biomedical Sciences. Instructional Programs That Focus On The Biological Sciences And The Non-Clinical Biomedical Sciences, And That Prepare Individuals For Research And Professional Careers As Biologists And Biomedical Scientists.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, biological & biomedical sciences is a widely-pursued major, with 187,103 degrees awarded annually. 1,833 colleges award biological & biomedical sciences degrees, an average of 102 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 2,309.
By level, the 187,103 awards include 302 certificates, 9,951 associate degrees, 138,316 bachelor’s degrees, 29,128 master’s degrees and 9,394 doctorates.
Women earned 67% of biological & biomedical sciences degrees and certificates in the latest year (124,769 of 187,103). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (86,128) and Hispanic or Latino (32,160), and international students earned 13,289.
College Factual ranks 1,391 schools in its 2027 Best Biological & Biomedical Sciences Schools ranking, including 196 for associate degrees, 1,135 for bachelor’s degrees, 337 for master’s degrees and 136 for doctorates. It also ranks biological & biomedical sciences schools within 52 states. In all, 1,833 colleges offer biological & biomedical sciences programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Biological & Biomedical Sciences Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common biological & biomedical sciences credential is the bachelor’s degree: 138,316 of the 187,103 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to biological & biomedical sciences call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Biology and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Biology is a great field for curious students who love learning about how living organisms grow, adapt and survive. Many of the fields can be quite rigorous and competitive. Be prepared for long hours in the lab doing research, analyzing results and writing lab reports.
Completing your coursework will help you develop critical thinking and analytic skills. You will need to read and evaluate scientific material, learn terminology and memorize formulas. Problem solving skills will help you work through difficult scenarios. Accuracy and attention to detail are absolutely necessary when performing experiments and recording results.
Students will often work with partners or in groups, making communication and collaboration important. You need to be a team player as well as leader. Don't be afraid to listen to theories and perspectives that may challenge your opinions. Work on your writing and speaking skills in order to present information clearly and accurately.
Some programs may require field experience or allow students to pursue internships or independent research. This experience is valuable and will make you more competitive in the workplace.
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How long a biological & biomedical sciences degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 302 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 9,951 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 138,316 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 29,128 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 9,394 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to biological & biomedical sciences, at 28.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 28.8% |
| Master’s degree | 27.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 15.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 14.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.1% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
30 occupations are related to Biological & Biomedical Sciences, with an average median salary of $105,416; the strongest outlook belongs to Genetic Counselors, at 13.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Lecturer, University Faculty Member, Assistant Professor and College Faculty Member.
With a strong academic background, graduates with a degree in biology will have the ability to enter many different occupations. Many become lab scientists working for a variety of medical, health or environmental industries. There are many opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry to work as a researcher, developer, sales person, marketer, or medical laboratory assistant.
Some careers in biology will require a minimum of a master's degree. Some careers that biology majors have gone into are professor, biotechnologist, biomedical engineer, lawyer, forensic scientist, or zoologist. Many grads also eventually become doctors, nurses, pharmacists or veterinarians.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to biological & biomedical sciences, at 3,289,795.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Genetic Counselors | 3,289,795 | 13.4% |
| Cytotechnologists | 2,585,436 | 10.3% |
| Cytogenetic Technologists | 2,100,694 | 1.9% |
| Exercise Physiologists | 1,771,772 | 1.7% |
| Histotechnologists | 1,678,341 | 4.1% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 585,851 | 1.3% |
| Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | 576,059 | -1.9% |
Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates earn a median $34,863 one year after completing their program, $62,787 after four years and $64,318 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,863 |
| 4 years | $62,787 |
| 5 years | $64,318 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to biological & biomedical sciences is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $159,837 |
| Cytotechnologists | $155,812 |
| Cytogenetic Technologists | $155,361 |
| Exercise Physiologists | $144,072 |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | $143,840 |
| Information Security Engineers | $142,543 |
| Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | $140,795 |
Biological & Biomedical Sciences includes 15 concentrations that together award 187,103 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Biology, General (103,797), Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (14,729) and Neurobiology and Neurosciences (13,720). Browse the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biology, General | 103,797 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 14,729 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 13,720 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 12,732 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 9,697 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 6,673 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | 4,879 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 4,738 |
| Biotechnology | 4,423 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 4,228 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 3,447 |
| Genetics | 1,838 |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | 1,152 |
| Botany/Plant Biology | 827 |
| Molecular Medicine | 223 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
