by our College Data Analytics TeamAre you interested in the study of life? A major in General Biology will allow you to study life in all forms: animals, plants, bacteria, and fungi. This includes in-depth research on different organisms, their communities, and their systems, cells, and processes that permit life.
Biology is a hands-on subject that will allow you to learn through experiments and doing. Students participate in labs and write reports on their findings. Biology will also cover how different organisms have survived and evolved over time. This major will allow you to study biology generally or biomedical sciences.
Courses may include: biochemistry, evolutionary biology, general biology, genetics, invertebrate biology, marine biology, microbiology, plant anatomy, and zoology.
Studying General Biology involves the study of Biology, General. Read on to learn the important information every general biology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general biology programs.
Nationwide, general biology is a widely-pursued major, with 101,585 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Biology Schools ranking analyzes these 1,710 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general biology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general biology programs later in this article.
Studies in General Biology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general biology graduates commonly enter.
Biology students are often first attracted to the subject due to a love of nature, plants and animals. You will spend a great deal of time exploring and learning about life and the behaviors that go along with it. Working in the field as well as working with animals should not intimidate you. You will also have the opportunity to work with advanced science tools like microscopes.
Studying biology is exciting and invigorating, but can include long hours in the lab performing repetitive tasks. Math and science will make up a large part of your course work. Even though your first love is science, don't forgo English. Clearly communicating scientific concepts through writing is an essential skill that can set you apart from others.
Working with others is important in this major. You will frequently work in study groups and with a lab partner. Critical thinking and a sharp memory will be necessary for your success. Students will be required to take copious notes of their experiments and faithfully record outcomes.
The skill set emphasized by a general biology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a general biology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general 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 | 140 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 7,983 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 83,045 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 8,526 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,891 |
People currently working in careers related to general biology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 38.4% |
| Master’s degree | 15.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 13.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 12.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.0% |
| Some college courses | 2.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general biology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
With a degree in general biology you have number of different career opportunities available to you. You can become a biological scientist, clinical laboratory technologist, biology teacher, forensic scientist, medical scientist, or science technician. Some students whill also choose to continue their education in graduate school. Biology majors can go on to become veterinary or medical professionals with additional education.
Majoring in general biology opens doors to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to general biology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general biology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Precision Agriculture Technicians | 167,331 | 6.9% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of general biology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,888 |
| 4 years | $49,148 |
| 5 years | $62,034 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general biology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general biology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Food Science Technicians | $100,898 |
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $97,541 |
With 1,710 different general biology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general biology school rankings to help you.
Those considering general biology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biology/Biological Sciences, General | 89,827 |
| Biomedical Sciences, General | 11,758 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| 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 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
