by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,727 U.S. colleges awarded 103,797 degrees and certificates in General Biology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 81% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1,300 schools in its 2027 Best General Biology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $32,966 one year after completing, rising to $60,044 after four years.
Are you interested in the study of life? A major in General Biology will allow you to study life in all forms: animals, plants, bacteria, and fungi. This includes in-depth research on different organisms, their communities, and their systems, cells, and processes that permit life.
Biology is a hands-on subject that will allow you to learn through experiments and doing. Students participate in labs and write reports on their findings. Biology will also cover how different organisms have survived and evolved over time. This major will allow you to study biology generally or biomedical sciences.
Courses may include: biochemistry, evolutionary biology, general biology, genetics, invertebrate biology, marine biology, microbiology, plant anatomy, and zoology.
Studying General Biology involves the study of Biology, General.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, general biology is a widely-pursued major, with 103,797 degrees awarded annually. 1,727 colleges award general biology degrees, an average of 60 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,154.
By level, the 103,797 awards include 153 certificates, 8,865 associate degrees, 84,160 bachelor’s degrees, 8,710 master’s degrees and 1,909 doctorates.
Women earned 68% of general biology degrees and certificates in the latest year (70,830 of 103,797). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (46,827) and Hispanic or Latino (20,686), and international students earned 4,257.
College Factual ranks 1,300 schools in its 2027 Best General Biology Schools ranking, including 183 for associate degrees, 1,082 for bachelor’s degrees, 192 for master’s degrees and 64 for doctorates. It also ranks general biology schools within 52 states. In all, 1,727 colleges offer general biology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Biology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general biology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 84,160 of the 103,797 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general biology call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Biology and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Biology students are often first attracted to the subject due to a love of nature, plants and animals. You will spend a great deal of time exploring and learning about life and the behaviors that go along with it. Working in the field as well as working with animals should not intimidate you. You will also have the opportunity to work with advanced science tools like microscopes.
Studying biology is exciting and invigorating, but can include long hours in the lab performing repetitive tasks. Math and science will make up a large part of your course work. Even though your first love is science, don't forgo English. Clearly communicating scientific concepts through writing is an essential skill that can set you apart from others.
Working with others is important in this major. You will frequently work in study groups and with a lab partner. Critical thinking and a sharp memory will be necessary for your success. Students will be required to take copious notes of their experiments and faithfully record outcomes.
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How long a general biology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 153 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 8,865 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 84,160 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 8,710 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,909 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general biology, at 38.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 38.4% |
| Master’s degree | 15.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 13.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 12.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.0% |
| Some college courses | 2.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
17 occupations are related to General Biology, with an average median salary of $88,973; the strongest outlook belongs to Biological Technicians, at 12.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Biology Teacher, Clinical Trials Manager, Clinical Project Manager and Research Coordinator.
With a degree in general biology you have number of different career opportunities available to you. You can become a biological scientist, clinical laboratory technologist, biology teacher, forensic scientist, medical scientist, or science technician. Some students whill also choose to continue their education in graduate school. Biology majors can go on to become veterinary or medical professionals with additional education.
The occupation related to general biology with the most projected jobs is Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, at 571,954.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Precision Agriculture Technicians | 167,331 | 6.9% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
General Biology graduates earn a median $32,966 one year after completing their program, $60,044 after four years and $62,520 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,966 |
| 4 years | $60,044 |
| 5 years | $62,520 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general biology is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| 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 |
| Food Science Technicians | $100,898 |
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $97,541 |
General Biology includes 2 concentrations that together award 103,797 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Biology/Biological Sciences, General (91,612) and Biomedical Sciences, General (12,185). It has 14 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 83,306 degrees a year; the largest are Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (14,729), Neurobiology and Neurosciences (13,720) and Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences (12,732). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biology/Biological Sciences, General | 91,612 |
| Biomedical Sciences, General | 12,185 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 14,729 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 13,720 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 12,732 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 9,697 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 6,673 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | 4,879 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 4,738 |
| Biotechnology | 4,423 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 4,228 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 3,447 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
