by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 98 U.S. colleges awarded 1,633 degrees and certificates in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 79% of graduates. College Factual ranks 42 schools in its 2027 Best Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $39,854 one year after completing, rising to $68,946 after four years.
A degree in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology involves the study of Biochemistry And Molecular Biology. A Program Of Study That Combines The Biological Sub-Disciplines Of Biochemistry And Molecular Biology. Includes Instruction In General Biology, General And Organic Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Immunology, Microbiology, Genetics, And Cellular Biology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, biochemistry & molecular biology is a widely-pursued major, with 1,633 degrees awarded annually. 98 colleges award biochemistry & molecular biology degrees, an average of 17 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 145.
By level, the 1,633 awards include 1,290 bachelor’s degrees, 167 master’s degrees and 176 doctorates.
Women earned 58% of biochemistry & molecular biology degrees and certificates in the latest year (949 of 1,633). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (841) and Asian (254), and international students earned 174.
College Factual ranks 42 schools in its 2027 Best Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Schools ranking, including 36 for bachelor’s degrees, 6 for master’s degrees and 7 for doctorates. It also ranks biochemistry & molecular biology schools within 26 states. In all, 98 colleges offer biochemistry & molecular biology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common biochemistry & molecular biology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 1,290 of the 1,633 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to biochemistry & molecular biology call most for Reading Comprehension, Writing and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Written Expression.
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How long a biochemistry & molecular biology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,290 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 167 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 176 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to biochemistry & molecular biology, at 32.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 32.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 21.2% |
| Master’s degree | 16.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 16.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.7% |
| Some college courses | 2.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
| First professional degree | 0.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
10 occupations are related to Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, with an average median salary of $94,661; the strongest outlook belongs to Clinical Research Coordinators, at 10.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Clinical Project Manager, Clinical Trials Manager, Research Coordinator and Scientist.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to biochemistry & molecular biology, at 542,888.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | 95,666 | 3.7% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology graduates earn a median $39,854 one year after completing their program, $68,946 after four years and $71,448 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $39,854 |
| 4 years | $68,946 |
| 5 years | $71,448 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to biochemistry & molecular biology is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $107,979 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology has 8 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 13,096 degrees a year; the largest are Biochemistry (10,285), Molecular Biology (1,409) and Molecular Biochemistry (514). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biochemistry | 10,285 |
| Molecular Biology | 1,409 |
| Molecular Biochemistry | 514 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Other | 336 |
| Biophysics | 303 |
| Molecular Biophysics | 207 |
| Radiation Biology/Radiobiology | 25 |
| Structural Biology | 17 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
