What you'll do in college
Biology majors start with cells, evolution, genetics, and ecology, then take chemistry, organic chemistry, and often physics and math. Upper-level coursework branches out into specialties from molecular biology to ecology.
Labs are everywhere—you'll culture bacteria, dissect specimens, sequence DNA, and write reports. Most premed students major in biology, though it's far from the only option.
What you'll do after college
Grads work as lab technicians, research assistants, science writers, conservation workers, biotech employees, or healthcare professionals. A huge fraction continue to graduate or professional school in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, public health, pharmacy, or PhD programs.
Pay at the bachelor's level is modest, but advanced degrees open up much higher-paying research and clinical roles. The work tends to be hands-on and mission-driven.
Famous graduates
- E.O. Wilson — Renowned biologist and ant researcher; B.S. in Biology from University of Alabama
- Dexter Holland — Lead singer of The Offspring and virologist; B.S. in Biology from USC
- Charles Henry Turner — Pioneering zoologist and entomologist who made major discoveries in animal behavior; B.S. in Biology from the University of Cincinnati
Selectivity vs. earnings
By acceptance rate
By SAT median
Earnings vs. selectivity rank
Majors in this category
| Major | Colleges | Degrees ▼ | Male/Female | Intl | Earnings | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | 1,200 | 73,315 | 32% / 68% | 3% | $60,262 | 94% |
| Biology | 1,164 | 66,022 | 31% / 69% | 3% | $59,919 | 94% |
| Biological Sciences | 36 | 5,402 | 33% / 67% | 4% | $62,912 | 93% |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 74 | 1,187 | 31% / 69% | 2% | $61,353 | 92% |
| Biological Science | 1 | 252 | 31% / 69% | 0% | $68,975 | 97% |
| Integrative Biology | 2 | 166 | 31% / 69% | 7% | $77,532 | 94% |
| Biosciences | 1 | 129 | 40% / 60% | 3% | $67,684 | |
| Biology - Pre-Health | 1 | 81 | 38% / 62% | 4% | $63,037 | 98% |
| Applied Biological Sciences | 1 | 28 | 46% / 54% | 0% | $72,304 | 91% |
| Biology (Course 7) | 1 | 17 | 35% / 65% | 12% | $77,485 | 100% |
| Biology (CCS) | 1 | 11 | 36% / 64% | 0% | $68,592 | 93% |
| Paleontology | 2 | 10 | 60% / 40% | 0% | $58,498 | |
| Biology/Education | 1 | 7 | 29% / 71% | 0% | $71,682 | 95% |
| Integrative Biological and Physical Sciences | 1 | 3 | 33% / 67% | 0% | $52,755 |