by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 75 U.S. colleges awarded 1,409 degrees and certificates in Molecular Biology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 67% of graduates. College Factual ranks 36 schools in its 2027 Best 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 Molecular Biology explores Molecular Biology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Structure And Function Of Biological Macromolecules And The Role Of Molecular Constituents And Mechanisms In Supramolecular Assemblies And Cells. Includes Instruction In Such Topics As Molecular Signaling And Transduction, Regulation Of Cell Growth, Enzyme Substrates And Mechanisms Of Enzyme Action, Dna-Protein Interaction, And Applications To Fields Such As Biotechnology, Genetics, Cell Biology, And Physiology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, molecular biology is a popular field of study, with 1,409 degrees awarded annually. 75 colleges award molecular biology degrees, an average of 19 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 227.
By level, the 1,409 awards include 1 certificates, 947 bachelor’s degrees, 276 master’s degrees and 185 doctorates.
Women earned 62% of molecular biology degrees and certificates in the latest year (879 of 1,409). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (659) and Asian (278), and international students earned 139.
College Factual ranks 36 schools in its 2027 Best Molecular Biology Schools ranking, including 30 for bachelor’s degrees, 12 for master’s degrees and 10 for doctorates. It also ranks molecular biology schools within 19 states. In all, 75 colleges offer molecular biology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Molecular Biology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common molecular biology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 947 of the 1,409 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to molecular biology call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Writing, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
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How long a molecular biology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 947 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 276 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 185 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to molecular biology, at 33.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.2% |
| Master’s degree | 19.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 18.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.3% |
| Some college courses | 2.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
11 occupations are related to Molecular Biology, with an average median salary of $95,464; the strongest outlook belongs to Biological Technicians, at 12.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Research Coordinator, Clinical Trials Manager, Clinical Project Manager and Research Scientist.
The occupation related to molecular biology with the most projected jobs is Clinical Research Coordinators, at 542,888.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
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 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 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
Molecular Biology has 8 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 13,320 degrees a year; the largest are Biochemistry (10,285), Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (1,633) and Molecular Biochemistry (514). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biochemistry | 10,285 |
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 1,633 |
| 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.
