by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 147 U.S. colleges awarded 705 degrees and certificates in Biology Education. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 59% of graduates. College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Biology Education Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $50,000 one year after completing, rising to $58,727 after four years.
A degree in Biology Education explores Biology Teacher Education. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Biology Programs At Various Educational Levels.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., biology education draws strong interest, with 705 degrees awarded annually. 147 colleges award biology education degrees, an average of 5 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 128.
By level, the 705 awards include 291 bachelor’s degrees, 413 master’s degrees and 1 doctorates.
Women earned 72% of biology education degrees and certificates in the latest year (504 of 705). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (468) and Hispanic or Latino (80), and international students earned 32.
College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Biology Education Schools ranking, including 3 for bachelor’s degrees and 7 for master’s degrees. It also ranks biology education schools within 6 states. In all, 147 colleges offer biology education programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Biology Education Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common biology education credential is the master’s degree: 413 of the 705 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to biology education call most for Speaking, Instructing and Learning Strategies, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Psychology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Speech Clarity and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a biology education degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 291 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 413 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to biology education, at 47.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 47.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 31.1% |
| Master’s degree | 6.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 6.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Biology Education, with an average median salary of $75,102; the strongest outlook belongs to Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 6.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Educator, Assistant Professor, College Professor and Faculty Member.
The occupation related to biology education with the most projected jobs is Education Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,441,246.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
Biology Education graduates earn a median $50,000 one year after completing their program, $58,727 after four years and $56,439 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $50,000 |
| 4 years | $58,727 |
| 5 years | $56,439 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to biology education, with a median salary of $98,329.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $41,048 |
Biology Education has 37 similar majors in the Education field, which together award 39,690 degrees a year; the largest are Physical Education Teaching and Coaching (7,130), Reading Teacher Education (6,129) and Music Teacher Education (4,149). Browse all Education majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 7,130 |
| Reading Teacher Education | 6,129 |
| Music Teacher Education | 4,149 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 3,405 |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education | 2,933 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other | 2,470 |
| Social Studies Teacher Education | 2,020 |
| Art Teacher Education | 1,898 |
| Health Teacher Education | 1,560 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education | 1,054 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
