by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 10 U.S. colleges awarded 104 degrees and certificates in Developmental Biology & Embryology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 49% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Developmental Biology & Embryology 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 degree in Developmental Biology & Embryology explores Developmental Biology And Embryology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Embryology, Development, And Growth Of Animals And Human Beings. Includes Instruction In Fertilization, Oogenesis, Histogenesis, Gastrulation, And Cell Differentiation; Embryological Development Including Organ And Pattern Formation, Morphogenesis, Gene Regulation, Cell Lineage, And Fate Maps; Disease And Defect Studies; Transgenic And Evolutionary Models Of Growth And Development; And Applications To Specific Organisms And Phyla.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, developmental biology & embryology draws strong interest, with 104 degrees awarded annually. 10 colleges award developmental biology & embryology degrees, an average of 10 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 53.
By level, the 104 awards include 51 bachelor’s degrees, 15 master’s degrees and 38 doctorates.
Women earned 60% of developmental biology & embryology degrees and certificates in the latest year (62 of 104). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (35) and Asian (25), and international students earned 13.
College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Developmental Biology & Embryology Schools ranking. In all, 10 colleges offer developmental biology & embryology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Developmental Biology & Embryology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common developmental biology & embryology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 51 of the 104 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to developmental biology & embryology call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Writing, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a developmental biology & embryology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 51 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 15 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 38 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to developmental biology & embryology, at 30.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 30.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 26.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 24.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 12.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
8 occupations are related to Developmental Biology & Embryology, with an average median salary of $71,716; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Assistant Professor, College Professor, Faculty Member and Adjunct Instructor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to developmental biology & embryology, at 1,335,407.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | 23,620 | 9.2% |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | 11,006 | 5.4% |
Developmental Biology & Embryology 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 developmental biology & embryology is Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists, with a median salary of $111,314.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
| Geneticists | $48,526 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $41,048 |
Developmental Biology & Embryology has 5 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 6,569 degrees a year; the largest are Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology (4,610), Anatomy (913) and Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology (475). 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 Histology | 475 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Other | 437 |
| Cell Biology and Anatomy | 134 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
