by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 186 U.S. colleges awarded 4,423 degrees and certificates in Biotechnology. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 70% of graduates. College Factual ranks 93 schools in its 2027 Best Biotechnology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $70,910 one year after completing, rising to $103,385 after four years.
Biotechnology is a mix between biology, chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, and engineering. This fun and interesting major allows you to "tinker" with living organisms (in a good way, not a mad scientist kind of way). You'll be able to use what you've learned from your classes to create better and more advanced products like growth hormones, vaccines, and medicines.
Some of the classes you will take include: biochemistry, biology, cell biology, evolution, botany, genetics, immunology, zoology, virology, organic chemistry, microbiology, entomology, human heredity, and plant pathology. This mix of diverse classes will teach you how to analyze everything from a human heart to a blade of grass. This major is relatively new and constantly changing in order to keep up with technological advancements. You will learn how to exploit and alter genes and genetic processes. This major is made for the curious student who wants to know the makeup of every living thing.
A major in Biotechnology explores Biotechnology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., biotechnology draws strong interest, with 4,423 degrees awarded annually. 186 colleges award biotechnology degrees, an average of 24 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 512.
By level, the 4,423 awards include 43 certificates, 166 associate degrees, 1,094 bachelor’s degrees, 3,096 master’s degrees and 24 doctorates.
Women earned 65% of biotechnology degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,880 of 4,423). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,471) and Hispanic or Latino (632), and international students earned 975.
College Factual ranks 93 schools in its 2027 Best Biotechnology Schools ranking, including 7 for associate degrees, 34 for bachelor’s degrees and 55 for master’s degrees. It also ranks biotechnology schools within 28 states. In all, 186 colleges offer biotechnology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Biotechnology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common biotechnology credential is the master’s degree: 3,096 of the 4,423 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to biotechnology 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 Oral Comprehension.
Curiosity is the most important personality trait you should have. A desire to know and understand the way living things grow, adapt and survive will help you tremendously in this major. You will be taking classes in a broad variety of disciplines. Attending lectures will teach you theories that you will be able to practice in the lab, and then apply to real-life scenarios in your future career. Be prepared to spend a great deal of time in the lab performing research, doing experiments and recording your findings.
A love for technology will also help you succeed. You will be confronted with new technology constantly in this major, as well as your future career. Constant learning and adaptation will allow you to keep up with the changes.
Although this major requires independent thought and research, you will also be taught to work with others through group projects. Work on your communication skills in order to collaborate with lab partners and peers. You may also have the opportunity to work with a professor or advisor to complete an independent research project. Learn to communicate professionally and clearly both orally and in writing.
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How long a biotechnology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 43 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 166 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,094 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,096 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 24 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to biotechnology, at 33.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 20.0% |
| Master’s degree | 17.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.9% |
| Some college courses | 3.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
9 occupations are related to Biotechnology, with an average median salary of $93,181; the strongest outlook belongs to Clinical Research Coordinators, at 10.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Research Coordinator, Clinical Trials Manager, Clinical Project Manager and Clinical Study Manager.
This cutting edge major will prepare you for a variety of career fields. Many students go into graduate studies in scientific or medical fields. However, Biotechnology majors can also easily find work as a researcher for an environmental, medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural or genetic industry.
Graduates also find work as biologists, ecologists, environmental scientists, pharmaceutical sales representatives or marketing specialists, quality control analysts and crime lab technicians. This major is very broad allowing you to work in the area that interests you the most.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to biotechnology, 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% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | 23,620 | 9.2% |
Biotechnology graduates earn a median $70,910 one year after completing their program, $103,385 after four years and $94,080 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $70,910 |
| 4 years | $103,385 |
| 5 years | $94,080 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to biotechnology 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 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
| Geneticists | $48,526 |
Biotechnology includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Biotechnology (4,423). It has 14 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 182,680 degrees a year; the largest are Biology, General (103,797), Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (14,729) and Neurobiology and Neurosciences (13,720). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biotechnology | 4,423 |
| Related 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 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 4,228 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 3,447 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
