by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 132 U.S. colleges awarded 4,879 degrees and certificates in Biological & Biomedical Sciences (Other). Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 51% of graduates. College Factual ranks 59 schools in its 2027 Best Biological & Biomedical Sciences (Other) Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $36,962 one year after completing, rising to $77,268 after four years.
Biological and Biomedical Sciences is a wide and diverse field with many opportunities to specialize. Aside from the traditional majors available, there are opportunities to focus in on areas of specific interest. For example, you could pursue Ethology, the study of animal behavior, or Chronobiology, the study of the effects that low temperatures have on living organisms. Another option is Ethnobiology, the study of past and present human interactions with the environment and the use of flora and fauna. You could also combine your studies with education in order to become a certified teacher in biology.
These very specific, yet interesting fields are not offered at every college. If you have a particular biological interest you need to check to make sure that your college offers that program.
The courses that you will take will vary depending on what you field you choose to study. However, most majors in this field will involve classes like biology, chemistry, advanced mathematics, genetics, biochemistry, and specialized biology classes like marine biology.
A degree in Biological & Biomedical Sciences (Other) explores Biological And Biomedical Sciences, Other.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., biological & biomedical sciences (other) is a widely-pursued major, with 4,879 degrees awarded annually. 132 colleges award biological & biomedical sciences (other) degrees, an average of 37 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 394.
By level, the 4,879 awards include 77 certificates, 584 associate degrees, 1,438 bachelor’s degrees, 2,468 master’s degrees and 312 doctorates.
Women earned 72% of biological & biomedical sciences (other) degrees and certificates in the latest year (3,524 of 4,879). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,721) and Hispanic or Latino (1,140), and international students earned 452.
College Factual ranks 59 schools in its 2027 Best Biological & Biomedical Sciences (Other) Schools ranking, including 7 for associate degrees, 17 for bachelor’s degrees, 26 for master’s degrees and 10 for doctorates. It also ranks biological & biomedical sciences (other) schools within 20 states. In all, 132 colleges offer biological & biomedical sciences (other) programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Biological & Biomedical Sciences (Other) Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common biological & biomedical sciences (other) credential is the master’s degree: 2,468 of the 4,879 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to biological & biomedical sciences (other) 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.
Two traits of a successful student in the biology field are dedication and hard work. You need patience when working on difficult problem sets or performing repetitive tasks in the lab. Your dedication will pay off when you finally understand how to apply the correct formulas or when the tedious lab work reveals an exciting result.
Communication is essential to success when collaborating with peers and your professors. Talking and listening are important when working with other people, but so is writing clearly and coherently. You will be required to write many research papers and lab reports; work on clear and concise writing to make complex information easy to understand.
Strong math and science skills will be very helpful in this field. You need to be able to think critically and analyze data constantly. Time management is essential to success. Many hours will be spent in the lab as well as additional hours reading for the lecture and completing practice problems. Biology is a competitive field that involves rigorous work. However, curious and dedicated students often find success.
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How long a biological & biomedical sciences (other) degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 77 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 584 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,438 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,468 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 312 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to biological & biomedical sciences (other), at 33.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 20.0% |
| Master’s degree | 17.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.9% |
| Some college courses | 3.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
10 occupations are related to Biological & Biomedical Sciences (Other), with an average median salary of $93,617; 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 Clinical Research Coordinator.
There are many different career paths that can be chosen in the biological science field. Many students may advance their education with a graduate degree. Some become doctors, nurses, pharmacists or veterinarians. Other graduates work in related fields as lab scientists or researchers.
Less traditional career paths can include occupations such as teaching, crime scene investigation, quality analysis or independent research. These careers allow for you to follow the direction in biology that truly interests you. Depending on what career you chose more education may be necessary. Salaries can vary depending on what field you pursue and if you obtain an advanced degree.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to biological & biomedical sciences (other), 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% |
| Life Scientists, All Other | 151,522 | -2.5% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Biological & Biomedical Sciences (Other) graduates earn a median $36,962 one year after completing their program, $77,268 after four years and $75,568 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $36,962 |
| 4 years | $77,268 |
| 5 years | $75,568 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to biological & biomedical sciences (other) 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 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $97,541 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
Biological & Biomedical Sciences (Other) includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other (4,879). It has 14 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 182,224 degrees a year; the largest are Biology, General (103,797), Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (14,729) and Neurobiology and Neurosciences (13,720). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | 4,879 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biology, General | 103,797 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 14,729 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 13,720 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 12,732 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 9,697 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 6,673 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 4,738 |
| Biotechnology | 4,423 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 4,228 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 3,447 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
