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Colleges by major · 2026
Biology programs range from large pre-med pipelines to small research departments. Federal data groups general biology, biochemistry, and molecular biology together, so compare the actual course sequence and lab access before you apply.
Rankings use federal IPEDS program data and College Scorecard outcomes. Verify deadlines, prerequisites, and accreditation with each college before applying.
Colleges that award at least 5.0% of their degrees in biology, ordered by median earnings 10 years after entry. The share column shows how large the field is at each school.
| # | College | Median earnings | Share of degrees | Acceptance rate | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvey Mudd CollegeClaremont, CA | $138,687 | 5.7% | 12.7% | $35,924 |
| 2 | University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. LouisSaint Louis, MO | $137,047 | 12.5% | 89.8% | $31,817 |
| 3 | Albany College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesAlbany, NY | $131,426 | 12.4% | 52.7% | $29,882 |
| 4 | California Institute of TechnologyPasadena, CA | $128,566 | 8.0% | 2.6% | $16,075 |
| 5 | University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA | $111,371 | 10.2% | 5.4% | $28,699 |
| 6 | Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ | $110,066 | 9.5% | 4.6% | $6,128 |
| 7 | Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara, CA | $109,183 | 6.1% | 48.0% | $50,062 |
| 8 | Lehigh UniversityBethlehem, PA | $105,584 | 6.6% | 25.9% | $36,931 |
| 9 | Claremont McKenna CollegeClaremont, CA | $104,736 | 7.0% | 9.6% | $28,849 |
| 10 | Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY | $104,043 | 9.9% | 8.8% | $28,690 |
| 11 | Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, MA | $103,937 | 14.0% | 16.4% | $41,704 |
| 12 | Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC | $103,494 | 5.8% | 12.9% | $40,815 |
| 13 | Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcester, MA | $103,470 | 6.9% | 60.2% | $43,071 |
| 14 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, GA | $102,772 | 6.1% | 14.1% | $12,116 |
| 15 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY | $102,491 | 7.2% | 4.0% | $21,590 |
Median earnings are reported for the whole institution (all graduates), not for biology majors specifically. A school that is strong in other fields can therefore rank above one with a better biology program. Treat this as a shortlist, not a verdict.
Schools where biology makes up the biggest share of all degrees awarded. A larger share means more sections, more faculty, and more course choice — it does not guarantee a better program.
Admission rates, test scores, cost, and full program mix for the schools with the largest biology programs.
How this list is built and how to use it
This page ranks colleges where biology is at least 5.0% of all degrees awarded, ordered by median earnings 10 years after entry. Harvey Mudd College tops the current list at $138,687. Earnings are institutional averages, not program-specific salaries — use the list to shortlist schools, then compare curriculum and cost.
We use federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data. A college qualifies when biology makes up at least 5.0% of the degrees it awards. Qualifying colleges are ordered by median earnings 10 years after entry, with graduation rate as the tie-breaker. Median earnings cover all graduates of the institution, not just biology majors.
846 colleges in the current catalog award at least 5.0% of their degrees in biology. The table shows the top 15 by earnings; every school links to its profile page.
No. Program size measures how many degrees a school awards in the field, not quality. A smaller department can offer more research access or smaller classes. Check accreditation for your specific track, required coursework, and where recent graduates went.
Use the free college search to enter your GPA (SAT optional) along with your intended major, budget, and location. It sorts schools into Reach, Target, and Safety matches from the same federal dataset used on this page.
Enter your GPA, intended major, and budget to get Reach, Target, and Safety matches from the same federal dataset.