by our College Data Analytics TeamBiological and Biomedical Sciences is all about studying life. You will learn how molecules become cells and how cells become organisms. With many options for majors and concentrations, this is a great field for students who love math, science, nature and the environment.
During your classes you will be required to collect data from the lab and the field. This involves getting outdoors into forests and rivers, as well as examining specimens in the laboratory and under the microscope. You will get very intimate with all different kinds of organisms and explore their populations and their environment. This major is for a student who is ready to work hard in order to gain a strong foundation in biology with strong content knowledge in chemistry, physics, and mathematics.
Students can major in General Biology. However, you also have the opportunity to pick a more specialized major. Ecology involves learning about interactions of living and nonliving things in all sorts of ecosystems. Neurobiology and Neuroscience allows you to study the way the brain functions and the importance of the nervous system as well as the evolution of the brain. If you are more interested in exploring the animal kingdom you may choose to major in Zoology. Students with a more medical bent might be interested in Microbiology Sciences and Immunology, where they will get the chance to study bacteria and infectious disease.
Explore additional the majors in this field of study to see what peaks your interests.
A degree in Biological & Biomedical Sciences explores Biological And Biomedical Sciences. Instructional Programs That Focus On The Biological Sciences And The Non-Clinical Biomedical Sciences, And That Prepare Individuals For Research And Professional Careers As Biologists And Biomedical Scientists. Continue reading for the important information every biological & biomedical sciences major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering biological & biomedical sciences programs.
Across the country, biological & biomedical sciences is a widely-pursued major, with 179,083 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Biological & Biomedical Sciences Schools ranking analyzes these 1,820 schools to determine the best overall colleges for biological & biomedical sciences students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of biological & biomedical sciences programs later in this article.
Studies in Biological & Biomedical Sciences emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations biological & biomedical sciences graduates commonly enter.
Biology is a great field for curious students who love learning about how living organisms grow, adapt and survive. Many of the fields can be quite rigorous and competitive. Be prepared for long hours in the lab doing research, analyzing results and writing lab reports.
Completing your coursework will help you develop critical thinking and analytic skills. You will need to read and evaluate scientific material, learn terminology and memorize formulas. Problem solving skills will help you work through difficult scenarios. Accuracy and attention to detail are absolutely necessary when performing experiments and recording results.
Students will often work with partners or in groups, making communication and collaboration important. You need to be a team player as well as leader. Don't be afraid to listen to theories and perspectives that may challenge your opinions. Work on your writing and speaking skills in order to present information clearly and accurately.
Some programs may require field experience or allow students to pursue internships or independent research. This experience is valuable and will make you more competitive in the workplace.
Skills developed in a biological & biomedical sciences program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a biological & biomedical sciences major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several biological & biomedical sciences degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 293 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 8,968 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 133,744 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 26,951 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 9,127 |
People currently working in careers related to biological & biomedical sciences tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 28.8% |
| Master’s degree | 27.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 15.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 14.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.1% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in biological & biomedical sciences careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
With a strong academic background, graduates with a degree in biology will have the ability to enter many different occupations. Many become lab scientists working for a variety of medical, health or environmental industries. There are many opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry to work as a researcher, developer, sales person, marketer, or medical laboratory assistant.
Some careers in biology will require a minimum of a master's degree. Some careers that biology majors have gone into are professor, biotechnologist, biomedical engineer, lawyer, forensic scientist, or zoologist. Many grads also eventually become doctors, nurses, pharmacists or veterinarians.
A degree in biological & biomedical sciences prepares you for a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to biological & biomedical sciences.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to biological & biomedical sciences.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Genetic Counselors | 3,289,795 | 13.4% |
| Cytotechnologists | 2,585,436 | 10.3% |
| Cytogenetic Technologists | 2,100,694 | 1.9% |
| Exercise Physiologists | 1,771,772 | 1.7% |
| Histotechnologists | 1,678,341 | 4.1% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 585,851 | 1.3% |
| Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | 576,059 | -1.9% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of biological & biomedical sciences graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,915 |
| 4 years | $50,943 |
| 5 years | $63,792 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for biological & biomedical sciences graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers biological & biomedical sciences grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $159,837 |
| Cytotechnologists | $155,812 |
| Cytogenetic Technologists | $155,361 |
| Exercise Physiologists | $144,072 |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | $143,840 |
| Information Security Engineers | $142,543 |
| Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | $140,795 |
With 1,820 different biological & biomedical sciences programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased biological & biomedical sciences school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in biological & biomedical sciences, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biology, General | 101,585 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 13,820 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 12,819 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 11,175 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 9,295 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 6,355 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 4,711 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | 4,612 |
| Biotechnology | 3,869 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 3,638 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 3,408 |
| Genetics | 1,733 |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | 1,144 |
| Botany/Plant Biology | 763 |
| Molecular Medicine | 156 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
