by our College Data Analytics TeamThis multidisciplinary major will create a strong link between biology and psychology, allowing you to study how the brain and central nervous system relate to human behavior. You will learn about neural mechanisms of behavior, cognition and the evolution of the nervous system.
This major is perfect for students who are interested in the physical side of Psychology. By combining the study of biology and psychology, you learn about the relationship between our biological make up and how we think, feel and act. This is a fascinating subject that will give you the knowledge needed to improve people's lives by treating mental illness, addiction and a variety of other psychological and physical problems.
Courses in this major include: Biology, Neurobiology, Behavior, Brain and Behavior, Statistics, Genetics, Cells and Organisms, Physiological Psychology, and Evolution.
Studying Biopsychology explores Biopsychology. Continue reading for the key facts every biopsychology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering biopsychology programs.
Nationwide, biopsychology draws strong interest, with 194 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Biopsychology Schools ranking analyzes these 21 schools to determine the best overall colleges for biopsychology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of biopsychology programs later in this article.
Studies in Biopsychology build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations biopsychology graduates commonly enter.
Students will work both independently, and with groups in order to complete projects. Work on your communication skills in order to learn from your peers and professors, as well as articulate your own ideas. Your classes will involve lab work, as well as research and writing papers. You will develop hypothesis, experiment, and research data and document your work through lab reports. Critical reading will be necessary in order to understand the difficult terminology that you will read about in your coursework.
Students should work to grasp broad concepts and integrate the information between the two subjects. You may wish to pursue an internship or gain work experience in your area of interest. Because this is a broad major, students could be interested in many different types of work.
Skills built by a biopsychology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a biopsychology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several biopsychology 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 194 |
People currently working in careers related to biopsychology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 28.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 25.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 19.9% |
| Master’s degree | 14.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.4% |
| Some college courses | 2.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in biopsychology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A Biopsychology degree will prepare you to work in many different fields. Graduates often find work as researchers or lab technicians for pharmaceutical, biotechnology or medical companies. You could also find work in a public health organization or go into the field of education. Some students may wish to continue their education in order to become a licensed psychologist, psychiatrists or Medical Doctor.
A degree in biopsychology opens doors to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to biopsychology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to biopsychology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 513,614 | -3.0% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
| Transportation Planners | 43,539 | 4.1% |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | 24,588 | 6.1% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of biopsychology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,343 |
| 4 years | $45,640 |
| 5 years | $59,131 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for biopsychology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers biopsychology 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 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,479 |
| Transportation Planners | $50,855 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $42,168 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $41,048 |
With 21 different biopsychology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased biopsychology school rankings to help you.
Those considering biopsychology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biopsychology | 194 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 30,141 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 28,033 |
| Data Analytics | 12,891 |
| MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES | 10,355 |
| Data Science | 7,716 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 5,740 |
| Nutrition Sciences | 5,456 |
| Behavioral Sciences | 5,391 |
| Sustainability Studies | 4,374 |
| Cognitive Science | 3,121 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
