by our College Data Analytics TeamBiology Studies was the 6th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 95,999 degrees in this year alone. This is a difference of 4,195 over the prior year, a growth of 4.4%.
Our 2023 Best Biology Studies Schools ranking analyzes 837 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for biology studies students. Explore this or one of our many other custom biological sciences rankings further below.
When studying Biological Sciences, you’ll learn that understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Talking to others to convey information effectively and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times are all required skills for careers related to this major.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most biological sciences degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional biological sciences certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are various different levels of biological sciences degrees. You can get anything from a in biology studies to the highest biological sciences degree, a . The type of biological sciences degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to biological sciences, with approximately 39.4% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to biological sciences tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 39.2% |
| Master’s Degree | 20.0% |
| Doctoral Degree | 16.6% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 13.5% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 4.7% |
51.3% of biological sciences workers have at least a master's. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in biology studies have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which biological sciences career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your biological sciences degree? Biology Studies careers are expected to grow 8.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to biology studies.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| High School Teachers | 1,095,500 | 7.5% |
| Biological Science Professors | 71,700 | 15.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 62,300 | 9.9% |
| Biological Scientists | 41,800 | 8.0% |
| Life Scientists | 9,700 | 9.0% |
As you might expect, salaries for biological sciences graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for biology studies graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers biological sciences grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | $139,680 |
| Biological Science Professors | $97,340 |
| Life Scientists | $89,150 |
| Biological Scientists | $83,600 |
| High School Teachers | $64,340 |
With over 2,767 different biological sciences degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased biological sciences school rankings to help you with this.
One of 1 majors within the General Biology area of study, Biology Studies has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Biomedical Sciences | 11,166 |
