by our College Data Analytics TeamEcology, Evolution & Systematics Biology is all about nature and how the webs of living and nonliving things interact. If you choose this major, you will learn how organisms develop and evolve throughout time, study their relationships with each other, and see how organisms and the environment work together in complex ecosystems.
Some of the classes may take include: biodiversity, conservation biology, ecology, evolutionary biology, genetics, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and advanced mathematics.
As you study, you will gain a big picture in nature as well as knowledge of the tiny creatures that make it possible. You may choose to focus on populations and the reasons behind why a particular species thrives or dies. As you continue towards your degree, you may be able to pick a specialization. Some of the concentrations available at various schools are Ecology, Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography, Evolutionary Biology, Aquatic Biology/Limnology, Environmental Biology, Population Biology, Conservation Biology, Systematic Biology, and Epidemiology.
Studying Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology explores Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, And Population Biology. Read on to learn the essential details every ecology, evolution & systematics biology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering ecology, evolution & systematics biology programs.
In the U.S., ecology, evolution & systematics biology is a popular field of study, with 9,295 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Schools ranking analyzes these 315 schools to determine the best overall colleges for ecology, evolution & systematics biology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of ecology, evolution & systematics biology programs later in this article.
Coursework for Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations ecology, evolution & systematics biology graduates commonly enter.
The most successful students in this major enjoy nature and the outdoors. You will be working with all types of natural systems and you may have to hike to remote locations in order to collect specimens or observe natural environments. Be ready for a lot of lab work observing, analyzing and experimenting with a variety of animals and plants. Students will need to learn to synthesize information from a variety of classes and subjects in order to draw conclusions.
Interpersonal skills are very important in this field. You will be working very closely with your peers and your professors. You need to be able to communicate effectively and collaborate well with others. Writing skills will help you complete lab reports and document your research clearly. Most colleges will require you to get an internship or a job working in the field over the summer. Some colleges will allow you to research with your professors over the summer.
Skills emphasized by a ecology, evolution & systematics biology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a ecology, evolution & systematics biology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several ecology, evolution & systematics biology 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 | 1 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 23 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,673 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,663 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 935 |
People currently working in careers related to ecology, evolution & systematics biology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 29.1% |
| Master’s degree | 23.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 19.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 18.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.3% |
| Some college courses | 1.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in ecology, evolution & systematics biology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
This broad major prepares graduates for many different career paths. Some students continue their education with a Master's Degree. Others obtain work as an environmental researcher for public or private institutions. Graduates also find work as park rangers, natural science managers, bioinformatics scientists, or even biology teachers.
Studying ecology, evolution & systematics biology opens doors to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to ecology, evolution & systematics biology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to ecology, evolution & systematics biology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 497,622 | 4.3% |
| Statisticians | 307,132 | 6.6% |
| Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 287,657 | 10.6% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
| Conservation Scientists | 208,826 | 13.4% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of ecology, evolution & systematics biology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,645 |
| 4 years | $55,280 |
| 5 years | $64,232 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for ecology, evolution & systematics biology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers ecology, evolution & systematics biology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Statisticians | $130,349 |
| Biostatisticians | $121,594 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
With 315 different ecology, evolution & systematics biology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased ecology, evolution & systematics biology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in ecology, evolution & systematics biology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Epidemiology | 3,053 |
| Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography | 2,375 |
| Ecology | 1,201 |
| Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | 840 |
| Conservation Biology | 592 |
| Environmental Biology | 449 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other | 311 |
| Evolutionary Biology | 176 |
| Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 151 |
| Aquatic Biology/Limnology | 119 |
| Systematic Biology/Biological Systematics | 18 |
| Population Biology | 10 |
| Related 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 |
| 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 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
