by our College Data Analytics TeamBiological and Biomedical Sciences is a wide and diverse field with many opportunities to specialize. Aside from the traditional majors available, there are opportunities to focus in on areas of specific interest. For example, you could pursue Ethology, the study of animal behavior, or Chronobiology, the study of the effects that low temperatures have on living organisms. Another option is Ethnobiology, the study of past and present human interactions with the environment and the use of flora and fauna. You could also combine your studies with education in order to become a certified teacher in biology.
These very specific, yet interesting fields are not offered at every college. If you have a particular biological interest you need to check to make sure that your college offers that program.
The courses that you will take will vary depending on what you field you choose to study. However, most majors in this field will involve classes like biology, chemistry, advanced mathematics, genetics, biochemistry, and specialized biology classes like marine biology.
A degree in Biological & Biomedical Sciences (Other) explores Biological And Biomedical Sciences, Other. Continue reading for the essential details every biological & biomedical sciences (other) student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering biological & biomedical sciences (other) programs.
In the U.S., biological & biomedical sciences (other) is a widely-pursued major, with 4,612 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Biological & Biomedical Sciences (Other) Schools ranking analyzes these 135 schools to determine the best overall colleges for biological & biomedical sciences (other) students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of biological & biomedical sciences (other) programs later in this article.
Coursework for Biological & Biomedical Sciences (Other) build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations biological & biomedical sciences (other) graduates commonly enter.
Two traits of a successful student in the biology field are dedication and hard work. You need patience when working on difficult problem sets or performing repetitive tasks in the lab. Your dedication will pay off when you finally understand how to apply the correct formulas or when the tedious lab work reveals an exciting result.
Communication is essential to success when collaborating with peers and your professors. Talking and listening are important when working with other people, but so is writing clearly and coherently. You will be required to write many research papers and lab reports; work on clear and concise writing to make complex information easy to understand.
Strong math and science skills will be very helpful in this field. You need to be able to think critically and analyze data constantly. Time management is essential to success. Many hours will be spent in the lab as well as additional hours reading for the lecture and completing practice problems. Biology is a competitive field that involves rigorous work. However, curious and dedicated students often find success.
The skill set built by a biological & biomedical sciences (other) program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a biological & biomedical sciences (other) major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several biological & biomedical sciences (other) 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 | 96 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 639 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,461 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,107 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 309 |
People currently working in careers related to biological & biomedical sciences (other) tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 20.0% |
| Master’s degree | 17.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.9% |
| Some college courses | 3.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in biological & biomedical sciences (other) careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
There are many different career paths that can be chosen in the biological science field. Many students may advance their education with a graduate degree. Some become doctors, nurses, pharmacists or veterinarians. Other graduates work in related fields as lab scientists or researchers.
Less traditional career paths can include occupations such as teaching, crime scene investigation, quality analysis or independent research. These careers allow for you to follow the direction in biology that truly interests you. Depending on what career you chose more education may be necessary. Salaries can vary depending on what field you pursue and if you obtain an advanced degree.
A degree in biological & biomedical sciences (other) opens doors to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to biological & biomedical sciences (other).
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to biological & biomedical sciences (other).
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Life Scientists, All Other | 151,522 | -2.5% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of biological & biomedical sciences (other) graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $39,648 |
| 4 years | $61,237 |
| 5 years | $71,149 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for biological & biomedical sciences (other) graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers biological & biomedical sciences (other) grads often go into.
| 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 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $97,541 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
With 135 different biological & biomedical sciences (other) programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased biological & biomedical sciences (other) school rankings to help you.
Those considering biological & biomedical sciences (other), you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | 4,612 |
| 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 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 9,295 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 6,355 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 4,711 |
| Biotechnology | 3,869 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 3,638 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 3,408 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
