A major in General Biomedical Sciences covers Biomedical Sciences, General. A General, Program That Focuses On The Integrative Scientific Study Of Biological Issues Related To Health And Medicine, Or A Program In One Or More Of The Biomedical Sciences That Is Undifferentiated As To Title. Includes Instruction In Any Of The Basic Medical Sciences At The Research Level; Biological Science Research In Biomedical Faculties; And General Studies Encompassing A Variety Of The Biomedical Disciplines. Read on to learn the important information every general biomedical sciences student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general biomedical sciences programs.
Nationwide, general biomedical sciences is a popular field of study, with 11,758 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Biomedical Sciences Schools ranking analyzes these 301 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general biomedical sciences students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general biomedical sciences programs later in this article.
Coursework for General Biomedical Sciences emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general biomedical sciences graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a general biomedical sciences program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a general biomedical sciences major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general 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 | 111 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 98 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 6,493 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,252 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 804 |
People currently working in careers related to general biomedical sciences tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 30.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 22.7% |
| Master’s degree | 20.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 18.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.5% |
| Some college courses | 0.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general biomedical sciences careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in general biomedical sciences prepares you for many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to general biomedical sciences.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general biomedical sciences.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of general biomedical sciences graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise 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 biomedical sciences graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general biomedical sciences grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $41,048 |
With 301 different general biomedical sciences programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general biomedical sciences school rankings to help you.
Students interested in general biomedical sciences, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biology/Biological Sciences, General | 89,827 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.