In the latest year, 312 U.S. colleges awarded 12,185 degrees and certificates in General Biomedical Sciences. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 56% of graduates. College Factual ranks 184 schools in its 2027 Best General Biomedical Sciences Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $32,966 one year after completing, rising to $60,044 after four years.
A major in General Biomedical Sciences covers Biomedical Sciences, General. A General, Program That Focuses On The Integrative Scientific Study Of Biological Issues Related To Health And Medicine, Or A Program In One Or More Of The Biomedical Sciences That Is Undifferentiated As To Title. Includes Instruction In Any Of The Basic Medical Sciences At The Research Level; Biological Science Research In Biomedical Faculties; And General Studies Encompassing A Variety Of The Biomedical Disciplines.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, general biomedical sciences is a popular field of study, with 12,185 degrees awarded annually. 312 colleges award general biomedical sciences degrees, an average of 39 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 728.
By level, the 12,185 awards include 135 certificates, 84 associate degrees, 6,817 bachelor’s degrees, 4,328 master’s degrees and 821 doctorates.
Women earned 67% of general biomedical sciences degrees and certificates in the latest year (8,215 of 12,185). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (5,076) and Hispanic or Latino (2,306), and international students earned 942.
College Factual ranks 184 schools in its 2027 Best General Biomedical Sciences Schools ranking, including 149 for bachelor’s degrees, 87 for master’s degrees and 29 for doctorates. It also ranks general biomedical sciences schools within 38 states. In all, 312 colleges offer general biomedical sciences programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Biomedical Sciences Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general biomedical sciences credential is the bachelor’s degree: 6,817 of the 12,185 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general biomedical sciences call most for Reading Comprehension, Science and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Inductive Reasoning.
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How long a general biomedical sciences degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 135 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 84 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 6,817 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,328 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 821 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general biomedical sciences, at 30.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 30.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 22.7% |
| Master’s degree | 20.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 18.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.6% |
| Some college courses | 0.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to General Biomedical Sciences, with an average median salary of $84,174; the strongest outlook belongs to Biological Technicians, at 12.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Research Specialist, Plant Taxonomy Teacher, Taxonomy Teacher and Life Sciences Teacher.
The occupation related to general biomedical sciences with the most projected jobs is Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 276,211.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
General Biomedical Sciences graduates earn a median $32,966 one year after completing their program, $60,044 after four years and $62,520 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,966 |
| 4 years | $60,044 |
| 5 years | $62,520 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general biomedical sciences is Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists, with a median salary of $111,314.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $41,048 |
General Biomedical Sciences has 1 similar major in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field; the largest is Biology/Biological Sciences, General (91,612). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biology/Biological Sciences, General | 91,612 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.