by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 15 U.S. colleges awarded 207 degrees and certificates in Evolutionary Biology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 59% of graduates. College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Evolutionary Biology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $44,645 one year after completing, rising to $66,409 after four years.
A major in Evolutionary Biology involves the study of Evolutionary Biology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Genetic, Developmental, Functional, And Morphological Patterns And Processes, And Theoretical Principles; And The Emergence And Mutation Of Organisms Over Time. Includes Instruction In Molecular And Morphological Systematics; Genetics And Development; Evolutionary Transformation; Paleobiology And Paleontology; Morphogenesis; Mutation; Locomotor, Biomechanical And Craniodental Form And Function; Evolutionary Theory; And Systematic Biology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., evolutionary biology is a popular field of study, with 207 degrees awarded annually. 15 colleges award evolutionary biology degrees, an average of 14 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 85.
By level, the 207 awards include 1 certificates, 123 bachelor’s degrees, 36 master’s degrees and 38 doctorates.
Women earned 67% of evolutionary biology degrees and certificates in the latest year (138 of 207). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (89) and Hispanic or Latino (36), and international students earned 32.
College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Evolutionary Biology Schools ranking, including 2 for bachelor’s degrees, 1 for master’s degrees and 1 for doctorates. It also ranks evolutionary biology schools within 3 states. In all, 15 colleges offer evolutionary biology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Evolutionary Biology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common evolutionary biology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 123 of the 207 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to evolutionary 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 Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an evolutionary biology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 123 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 36 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 38 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to evolutionary biology, at 35.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.5% |
| Master’s degree | 19.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 18.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 14.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.5% |
| Some college courses | 2.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
10 occupations are related to Evolutionary Biology, with an average median salary of $89,418; 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 Research Scientist.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to evolutionary 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% |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | 159,217 | -1.2% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Evolutionary Biology graduates earn a median $44,645 one year after completing their program, $66,409 after four years and $64,232 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,645 |
| 4 years | $66,409 |
| 5 years | $64,232 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to evolutionary 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 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $55,554 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
Evolutionary Biology has 11 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 9,490 degrees a year; the largest are Epidemiology (3,015), Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography (2,663) and Ecology (1,199). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Epidemiology | 3,015 |
| Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography | 2,663 |
| Ecology | 1,199 |
| Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | 935 |
| Environmental Biology | 490 |
| Conservation Biology | 431 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other | 346 |
| Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 248 |
| Aquatic Biology/Limnology | 129 |
| Systematic Biology/Biological Systematics | 24 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
