by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 23 U.S. colleges awarded 484 degrees and certificates in Biological Engineering. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 75% of graduates. College Factual ranks 12 schools in its 2027 Best Biological Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $58,212 one year after completing, rising to $85,115 after four years.
If you would like to combine a passion for the environment and natural resources with your skill in the biological field, consider majoring in Biological Engineering.
Biological Engineering students take classes in biology, chemical engineering, civil engineering, applied mathematics, bioelectronics, and physics along with classes in agriculture, earth science, and forestry to learn how to use engineering to solve biological issues. Graduates will be equipped with the skills to improve natural resource use, increase environmental production during manufacturing processes, and develop enhanced food production systems.
A degree in Biological Engineering involves the study of Biological/biosystems Engineering.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, biological engineering is a popular field of study, with 484 degrees awarded annually. 23 colleges award biological engineering degrees, an average of 21 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 79.
By level, the 484 awards include 362 bachelor’s degrees, 75 master’s degrees and 47 doctorates.
Women earned 52% of biological engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (253 of 484). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (289) and Asian (55), and international students earned 43.
College Factual ranks 12 schools in its 2027 Best Biological Engineering Schools ranking, including 12 for bachelor’s degrees and 1 for master’s degrees. It also ranks biological engineering schools within 9 states. In all, 23 colleges offer biological engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Biological Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common biological engineering credential is the bachelor’s degree: 362 of the 484 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to biological engineering call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Speaking, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Mathematics and Design, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Students who wish to pursue a career in Biological Engineering should have a strong background in math and science. Professionals must apply these principles daily. Students should also have strong critical thinking and problem solving skills to develop unique and successful solutions to given problems. Strong communication skills and the ability to work in teams will help professionals accomplish more tasks efficiently and effectively.
Biological engineers often work full time with occasional overtime hours. Although most work is done from an office or laboratory, professionals must perform field visits to make observations and draw up plans for tackling problems with depleting natural resources, environmental pollution, or agricultural damage.
In order to gain valuable experience and stand out to employers when entering the job market, students should find internships or summer jobs. This will allow them to get hands-on experience both in the field and working with computer systems that aid professionals in problem solving. Students should also look into cooperative engineering programs provided by some colleges and universities that allow students to gain college credit while working in their desired field.
Most entry-level positions require a bachelor's degree, but for those who wish to perform research, teach, or pursue a higher paying job, a master's degree is required.
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How long a biological engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 362 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 75 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 47 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to biological engineering, at 30.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 30.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 29.8% |
| Master’s degree | 12.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 7.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.1% |
| Some college courses | 1.6% |
| First professional degree | 1.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
13 occupations are related to Biological Engineering, with an average median salary of $94,736; the strongest outlook belongs to Solar Energy Systems Engineers, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Motion and Time Study Teacher, Geological Engineering Teacher, Radio Engineering Teacher and Metallography Teacher.
Biological Engineering graduates have the ability to pursue a job in a variety of industries. Some decide to go into agriculture and work with farms or food production companies, while others work with government organizations protecting natural resources and the environment. This degree equips graduates with a wide range of knowledge on how biology interacts with engineering, allowing for numerous career options.
The occupation related to biological engineering with the most projected jobs is Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,297,204.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Nanosystems Engineers | 358,781 | -2.9% |
| Wind Energy Engineers | 353,305 | 12.7% |
| Engineers, All Other | 292,948 | -4.3% |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | 266,797 | 14.5% |
| Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar | 227,778 | 6.7% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
Biological Engineering graduates earn a median $58,212 one year after completing their program, $85,115 after four years and $75,025 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $58,212 |
| 4 years | $85,115 |
| 5 years | $75,025 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to biological engineering is Engineers, All Other, with a median salary of $136,628.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $136,628 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $121,651 |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | $116,775 |
| Mechatronics Engineers | $115,569 |
| Microsystems Engineers | $104,558 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Wind Energy Engineers | $98,460 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
Biological Engineering includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Biological/Biosystems Engineering (484). It has 40 similar majors in the Engineering field, which together award 202,551 degrees a year; the largest are Mechanical Engineering (43,874), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (27,513) and Computer Engineering (21,335). Browse all Engineering majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biological/Biosystems Engineering | 484 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 43,874 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 27,513 |
| Computer Engineering | 21,335 |
| Civil Engineering | 19,856 |
| Engineering, General | 14,789 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 14,592 |
| Chemical Engineering | 10,559 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 10,170 |
| Industrial Engineering | 8,023 |
| Systems Engineering | 4,489 |
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