by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 21 U.S. colleges awarded 475 degrees and certificates in Cell/Cellular Biology & Histology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 75% of graduates. College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Cell/Cellular Biology & Histology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $39,754 one year after completing, rising to $73,772 after four years.
A major in Cell/Cellular Biology & Histology covers Cell/cellular Biology And Histology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Structure, Function, And Regulation Of Cells As Individual Units And As Components Of Larger Systems. Includes Instruction In Cell Chemistry, Cellular Dynamics, Cellular Replication And Reproduction, Cell Anatomy, Membrane Function, Organelles, Cell Adhesion And Extracellular Matrices, Cell Dynamics And Motility, Meiosis And Mytosis, Signal Transduction, Regulation, Recognition And Defense Mechanisms, The Cell Cycle, Cell Metabolism And Respiration, Gene Expression, And Studies Of Cell Types And Characteristics.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, cell/cellular biology & histology draws strong interest, with 475 degrees awarded annually. 21 colleges award cell/cellular biology & histology degrees, an average of 23 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 181.
By level, the 475 awards include 355 bachelor’s degrees, 29 master’s degrees and 91 doctorates.
Women earned 61% of cell/cellular biology & histology degrees and certificates in the latest year (291 of 475). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (200) and Asian (149), and international students earned 44.
College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Cell/Cellular Biology & Histology Schools ranking, including 9 for bachelor’s degrees, 1 for master’s degrees and 3 for doctorates. It also ranks cell/cellular biology & histology schools within 8 states. In all, 21 colleges offer cell/cellular biology & histology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Cell/Cellular Biology & Histology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common cell/cellular biology & histology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 355 of the 475 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to cell/cellular biology & histology call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Medicine and Dentistry, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Comprehension and Near Vision.
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How long a cell/cellular biology & histology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 355 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 29 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 91 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to cell/cellular biology & histology, at 45.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 45.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 15.8% |
| Master’s degree | 13.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 6.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.3% |
| Some college courses | 1.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
16 occupations are related to Cell/Cellular Biology & Histology, with an average median salary of $99,893; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Cytologist, Medical Technologist (MT), Certified Cytotechnologist and Cytopathology Technologist.
The occupation related to cell/cellular biology & histology with the most projected jobs is Cytotechnologists, at 2,585,436.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cytotechnologists | 2,585,436 | 10.3% |
| Cytogenetic Technologists | 2,100,694 | 1.9% |
| Histotechnologists | 1,678,341 | 4.1% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists | 678,933 | 3.9% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Epidemiologists | 190,675 | 3.2% |
Cell/Cellular Biology & Histology graduates earn a median $39,754 one year after completing their program, $73,772 after four years and $75,225 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $39,754 |
| 4 years | $73,772 |
| 5 years | $75,225 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to cell/cellular biology & histology is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Cytotechnologists | $155,812 |
| Cytogenetic Technologists | $155,361 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Histotechnologists | $125,527 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
Cell/Cellular Biology & Histology has 5 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 6,198 degrees a year; the largest are Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology (4,610), Anatomy (913) and Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Other (437). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4,610 |
| Anatomy | 913 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Other | 437 |
| Cell Biology and Anatomy | 134 |
| Developmental Biology and Embryology | 104 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
