by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, biochemistry was the 79th most popular major nationwide with 10,320 degrees awarded. This represents a 2.4% increase in biological chemistry degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 10,071.
This year's Best Biochemistry Schools ranking compares 377 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of biological chemistry programs later in this article.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in biochemistry is understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. Required skills include communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Once you obtain your degree, additional biological chemistry certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are various different levels of biological chemistry degrees. You can get anything from a in biochemistry to the highest biological chemistry degree, a . The type of biological chemistry degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to biological chemistry, with approximately 29.2% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for biological chemistry workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 28.5% |
| Doctoral Degree | 23.9% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 22.2% |
| Master’s Degree | 17.5% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 2.5% |
Most workers in biological chemistry have at least a master's degree. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in biochemistry have received.
This of course varies depending on which biological chemistry career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your biological chemistry degree? Biochemistry careers are expected to grow 12.8% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to biochemistry.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists | 136,100 | 13.4% |
| Biological Science Professors | 71,700 | 15.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 62,300 | 9.9% |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | 35,100 | 11.4% |
As you might expect, salaries for biological chemistry graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for biochemistry graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers biological chemistry grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | $139,680 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $105,940 |
| Biological Science Professors | $97,340 |
| Medical Scientists | $96,420 |
With over 903 different biological chemistry degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased biological chemistry school rankings to help you with this.
One of 8 majors within the Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology area of study, Biochemistry has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | 1,511 |
| Molecular Biology | 1,394 |
| Molecular Biochemistry | 521 |
| Biophysics | 269 |
| Other Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology | 259 |
