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What you'll do in college

This major focuses on the human body, studying how our systems function, develop, and interact. Coursework spans anatomy, physiology, human genetics, immunology, and human evolution, blending biology with chemistry and physics. Expect intense laboratory sessions involving dissection, anatomical models, physiological testing, and microscopic analysis. Many pre-med students choose this major because it strongly aligns with medical school prerequisites and builds a foundational understanding of human health.

What you'll do after college

Grads frequently use this major as a launchpad for medical, dental, or physician assistant school. Those entering the workforce with a bachelor's degree work as clinical research coordinators, lab technicians, or health educators. The deep understanding of human physiology is essential for any advanced clinical or biomedical research career, and pay rises significantly with clinical licensure or advanced degrees.

Selectivity vs. earnings

By acceptance rate

$65,254
868
100–80%
$63,852
1,697
80–72%
$69,599
1,914
72–55%
$76,220
1,437
55–44%
$60,206
1,781
43–14%
$71,690
949
12–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted adjusted 5-year earnings

By SAT median

$59,418
669
400–1070
$61,875
1,668
1080–1230
$60,015
842
1230–1270
$71,437
1,580
1270–1330
$80,741
1,397
1330–1400
$70,728
770
1410–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted adjusted 5-year earnings

Earnings vs. selectivity rank

$0 $50,000 $100,000 #1 #25 #50 #100 #250 #750 #1259 Selectivity rank (1 = most selective) #1074 · $56,142 #1143 · $60,006 #349 · $74,796 #121 · $58,344 #1206 · $47,700 #744 · $69,938 #965 · $55,876 #338 · $58,477 #624 · $65,045 #1132 · $74,037 #378 · $71,901 #12 · $92,237 #63 · $73,946 #727 · $70,442 #863 · $53,277 #942 · $67,695 #1017 · $52,931 #504 · $81,699 #1228 · $60,558 #910 · $53,957 #1178 · $74,077 #985 · $64,654 #380 · $73,517 #236 · $69,175 #115 · $70,219 #177 · $61,734 #1040 · $78,658 #490 · $63,795 #183 · $81,031 #791 · $55,446 #919 · $63,999 #520 · $63,114 #556 · $81,699 #204 · $67,874 #120 · $72,996 #1189 · $65,202 #541 · $81,699 #251 · $51,812 #1227 · $55,477 #248 · $63,438 #211 · $75,974 #47 · $60,779 #632 · $64,612 #1152 · $71,498 #740 · $72,281 #348 · $46,577 #1106 · $68,340 #537 · $66,093 #1186 · $78,220 #792 · $55,900 #290 · $70,191 #44 · $66,378 #247 · $60,809 #437 · $63,510 #782 · $79,061 #934 · $74,242 #253 · $63,431 #608 · $59,225 #534 · $58,319 #104 · $53,441 #920 · $77,831 #509 · $61,714 #56 · $84,634 #867 · $63,760 #98 · $87,542 #1068 · $55,993 #1003 · $63,420 #186 · $61,373 #485 · $81,699 #702 · $53,846 #696 · $59,888 #680 · $72,198 #330 · $83,348 #799 · $67,349 #319 · $68,125 #26 · $70,344 #958 · $71,992 #166 · $66,014 #690 · $67,161 #1185 · $62,347 #367 · $58,445 #310 · $69,740 #607 · $55,851 #484 · $74,802 #49 · $71,409 #463 · $67,157 #139 · $81,699 #489 · $69,418 #223 · $60,576 #215 · $72,358 #277 · $65,075 #425 · $54,928 #369 · $61,063 #1113 · $55,618 #263 · $80,001 #262 · $54,205 #695 · $46,806 #499 · $76,265 #209 · $64,277 #831 · $45,986 #119 · $57,643 #890 · $63,788 #10 · $79,842 #758 · $69,669 #1101 · $76,236 #847 · $62,129 #546 · $59,772 #1127 · $56,149 #101 · $76,979 #3 · $69,998 #585 · $57,212 #17 · $78,912 #11 · $76,699 #1145 · $45,746 #210 · $66,699 #5 · $80,907 #1111 · $62,339 #1115 · $57,096 #1–#25: median $79,377 #26–#50: median $68,361 #51–#100: median $84,634 #101–#250: median $66,356 #251–#750: median $65,075 #751–#1259: median $62,883
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted adjusted 5-year earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees Male/Female Intl 5yr Earn
Human Biology 218 11,315 31% / 69% 2% $66,784
Biomedical Sciences 140 5,977 33% / 67% 2% $64,970
Human Biology 29 2,477 27% / 73% 3% $64,958
Physiology 24 1,236 35% / 65% 2% $69,655
Biological and Biomedical Sciences 20 919 25% / 75% 1% $72,945
Integrative Physiology 1 333 29% / 71% 1% $81,031
Physiological Science 1 207 29% / 71% 3% $68,343
Toxicology 6 45 38% / 62% 7%
Human Physiology 1 43 21% / 79% 2% $70,191
Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology 1 32 34% / 66% 3% $80,907
Pathobiology 1 26 31% / 69% 0% $66,014
Anatomy 2 20 45% / 55% 0% $92,237