by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 33 U.S. colleges awarded 2,344 degrees and certificates in Human Biology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 97% of graduates. College Factual ranks 20 schools in its 2027 Best Human Biology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $31,054 one year after completing, rising to $68,932 after four years.
Human Biology is a complex, multidisciplinary and interesting major. Students use the social sciences, humanities, and biology, to gain a holistic view of humanity. Some of the subjects studied are normal physiology and disease, as well as society and culture. Classes are innovative and encourage students to think creatively and develop their own options.
Some of the classes you can expect to take as a Human Biology Major include: biology, chemistry, physics, adolescent development, sexual development, family relationships, gerontology, death and dying, genetics, and disease.
Some colleges allow students the ability to choose a concentration. The concentration of Dispute Resolution will prepare students to gain negotiation, mediation, and arbitration skills to resolve issues.
Studying Human Biology explores Human Biology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, human biology is a popular field of study, with 2,344 degrees awarded annually. 33 colleges award human biology degrees, an average of 71 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 517.
By level, the 2,344 awards include 19 associate degrees, 2,266 bachelor’s degrees, 51 master’s degrees and 8 doctorates.
Women earned 78% of human biology degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,820 of 2,344). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are Asian (641) and White (632), and international students earned 61.
College Factual ranks 20 schools in its 2027 Best Human Biology Schools ranking, including 1 for associate degrees, 18 for bachelor’s degrees and 1 for master’s degrees. It also ranks human biology schools within 9 states. In all, 33 colleges offer human biology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Human Biology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common human biology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 2,266 of the 2,344 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to human biology call most for Reading Comprehension, Writing and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Biology and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
This interdisciplinary major combines classes from a variety of subjects. Students can expect to spend time in the lab performing experiments and submitting lab reports, as well as time in the library writing in-depth research papers. This major may also involve time in the field, interacting and interviewing people. Communication skills are important as you will need to clearly explain complex information.
Be ready to collaborate with others on group projects and presentations. Listen to the opinions and experiences of others to gain a broader understanding of human life.
This major also requires math and science skills. Do not get discouraged if you need multiple tries to get a problem or a formula correct. Perseverance will lead you to success.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a human biology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 19 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,266 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 51 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 8 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to human biology, at 33.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 19.3% |
| Master’s degree | 18.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.7% |
| Some college courses | 3.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
13 occupations are related to Human Biology, with an average median salary of $80,893; the strongest outlook belongs to Anthropologists and Archeologists, at 12.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Lecturer, Science Teacher, Survey Research Teacher and Family Consumer Science Teacher.
Human Biology is a broad major that prepares graduates for a wide range of employment possibilities. Those interested in medicine may choose to work for a medical or pharmaceutical company as research specialists, lab technicians, marketers or salespersons. Graduates also find work in information technology, social work, public health, education or scientific writing. Some choose to continue their education to become nurses, doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists or mental health counselors.
The occupation related to human biology with the most projected jobs is Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other, at 1,421,275.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | 1,421,275 | 11.1% |
| 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% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Human Biology graduates earn a median $31,054 one year after completing their program, $68,932 after four years and $68,953 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $31,054 |
| 4 years | $68,932 |
| 5 years | $68,953 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to human biology 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 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $72,345 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
Human Biology includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Human Biology (2,344). It has 48 similar majors in the Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies field, which together award 148,078 degrees a year; the largest are Biological and Physical Sciences (29,811), Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (29,665) and Data Analytics (17,572). Browse all Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Human Biology | 2,344 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 29,811 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 29,665 |
| Data Analytics | 17,572 |
| Data Science | 11,772 |
| MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES | 11,175 |
| Behavioral Sciences | 6,906 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 5,644 |
| Nutrition Sciences | 5,569 |
| Sustainability Studies | 4,567 |
| Cognitive Science | 3,911 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
