Best Colleges for Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology 2026
20 schools ranked by graduate earnings, real data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Top 20 Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology Programs by Graduate Earnings
| # | School | Earnings | Tuition | Accept Rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeastern University Boston, MA | $84,199 | $63,141 | 10% | 15,719 |
| 2 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC | $76,667 | $31,767 | 40% | 26,389 |
| 3 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | $72,935 | $68,237 | 10% | 20,817 |
| 4 | University of San Diego San Diego, CA | $70,621 | $56,444 | 47% | 5,619 |
| 5 | Rutgers University-Camden Camden, NJ | $69,829 | $35,841 | 78% | 3,819 |
| 6 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ | $69,829 | $36,001 | 65% | 36,357 |
| 7 | Binghamton University Vestal, NY | $68,227 | $29,453 | 38% | 14,401 |
| 8 | New York University New York, NY | $66,903 | $60,438 | 9% | 29,430 |
| 9 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus Durham, NH | $66,632 | $38,882 | 87% | 11,230 |
| 10 | University of California-Davis Davis, CA | $65,761 | $46,024 | 42% | 31,777 |
| 11 | California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, CA | $65,436 | $18,953 | 87% | 36,956 |
| 12 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA | $65,089 | $39,293 | 58% | 23,694 |
| 13 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO | $64,863 | $33,751 | 90% | 25,148 |
| 14 | Towson University Towson, MD | $64,819 | $28,326 | 83% | 16,400 |
| 15 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA | $63,773 | $32,876 | 16% | 18,260 |
| 16 | Boston University Boston, MA | $63,204 | $65,168 | 11% | 17,850 |
| 17 | University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston, MA | $62,572 | $37,174 | 83% | 11,848 |
| 18 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX | $61,992 | $42,778 | 29% | 42,100 |
| 19 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN | $61,773 | $36,402 | 77% | 30,469 |
| 20 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | $61,419 | $44,524 | 9% | 33,040 |
Biology is the study of living organisms: their structure, function, genetics, evolution, and interactions with the environment. Undergraduate programs cover cell biology, genetics, ecology, physiology, biochemistry, and laboratory techniques including molecular biology methods such as PCR and gel electrophoresis. It is one of the most common pre-medicine and pre-health majors in the country, and also a gateway to careers in research, biotechnology, and environmental science.
Career outcomes vary significantly depending on the degree level pursued. Bachelor's graduates commonly work as research technicians, laboratory analysts, environmental scientists, and science educators, earning $40,000–$65,000. The highest-earning biology-related careers (physician, dentist, pharmacist, research scientist) require graduate or professional degrees. Biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries actively recruit biology graduates, with roles in quality control, regulatory affairs, and clinical research available at the bachelor's level.
Strong biology programs offer active research labs where undergraduates can participate in original research, a critical differentiator for students pursuing medical school, PhD programs, or competitive biotech positions. Look for programs affiliated with research universities or academic medical centers, which tend to provide broader lab access and clinical shadowing opportunities. Pre-health advising quality, MCAT preparation resources, and medical school acceptance rates are also meaningful signals of program quality. The earnings data on this page reflects bachelor's-level graduate outcomes from the College Scorecard.
Earnings shown are median graduate earnings 4 years after graduation (or 1 year if 4-year data is unavailable), sourced from the College Scorecard.See full major data
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What should I look for in a Biology program?
Undergraduate research opportunities are the single most important differentiator for biology programs. Working in a faculty research lab strengthens medical school and PhD applications substantially. Look for programs at research universities with modern lab facilities, strong pre-health advising, clinical shadowing partnerships, and high medical school acceptance rates among applicants.
What careers can I pursue with a Biology degree?
Biology graduates work as research technicians, laboratory analysts, environmental scientists, medical and scientific writers, and science educators. With professional or graduate degrees, biology opens careers in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, PhD research, biotechnology, and science policy. The degree is one of the most common pre-medicine pathways.
How much do Biology graduates earn?
Bachelor's-level biology graduates earn a median of around $45,000–$60,000, with roles in biotech and pharmaceutical companies on the higher end. Physicians and dentists with biology backgrounds earn $200,000–$350,000 after residency. The earnings data on this page reflects actual bachelor's-level graduate outcomes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.