Colorado·Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations·SOC 19-1029

Best Biological Scientist, All Other programs in Colorado, ranked by enrollment

All biological scientists not listed.

28 schools in Colorado run programs that feed this job, graduating 2,298 people a year. The job pays a median of $93,970 in Colorado across about 850 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledBotanistBiologistScientistBioinformaticistMedical GeneticistResearch ScientistMolecular BiologistBioinformatics Scientist
Graduates / yr
2,298
in Colorado
Median pay · Colorado
$93,970
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
850
people employed
Schools
28
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
47%
across those schools
Median net price
$23,510
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in Colorado that lead to this job

Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.

Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.01
Biology
1,119graduates / yr
24 schools · 1 specialization · 48.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings $32,152
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.13
Ecology
368graduates / yr
4 schools · 3 specializations · 16.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $29,460
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.04
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
222graduates / yr
4 schools · 3 specializations · 9.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings $35,393
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.15
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
196graduates / yr
5 schools · 1 specialization · 8.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,687
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.19
Nutrition Sciences
176graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 7.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings $30,508
Psychology
CIP 42.27
Research and Experimental Psychology
65graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 2.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $34,454
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.10
Pharmacology and Toxicology
33graduates / yr
2 schools · 2 specializations · 1.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $39,202
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.02
Biochemistry
32graduates / yr
2 schools · 2 specializations · 1.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $38,243
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.05
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
32graduates / yr
1 schools · 3 specializations · 1.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $38,383
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.11
Biomathematics
26graduates / yr
1 schools · 2 specializations · 1.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $72,338
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.12
Biotechnology
20graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 0.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $49,023
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.99
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
4graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 0.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,278
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.09
Physiology
3graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,146
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.03
Botany/Plant Biology
2graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $33,009

23 programs in Colorado that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in Colorado (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Colorado page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
1
CIP 26.0101In Colorado
1,119
48.7%
24$32,152$25,000
2
CIP 26.1310In Colorado
222
9.7%
2$29,460$23,480
3
CIP 26.0406In Colorado
200
8.7%
4$35,393$19,961
4
CIP 26.1501In Colorado
196
8.5%
5$31,687$22,936
5
CIP 30.1901In Colorado
176
7.7%
3$30,508$24,586
6
CIP 26.1305In Colorado
91
4.0%
3$29,460$23,480
7
CIP 42.2706In Colorado
65
2.8%
1$34,454$21,878
8
CIP 26.1301In Colorado
55
2.4%
4$29,460$23,480
9
CIP 26.0204In Colorado
30
1.3%
2$38,243$23,014
10
CIP 26.1004In Colorado
27
1.2%
2$39,202$18,000
11
CIP 26.1102In Colorado
23
1.0%
1$72,338$18,500
12
CIP 26.1201In Colorado
20
0.9%
2$49,023$21,309
13
CIP 26.0509In Colorado
17
0.7%
1$38,383$22,065
14
CIP 26.0403In Colorado
16
0.7%
1$35,393$19,961
15
CIP 26.0507In Colorado
9
0.4%
1$38,383$22,065
16
CIP 26.0499In Colorado
6
0.3%
1$35,393$19,961
17
CIP 26.0503In Colorado
6
0.3%
1$38,383$22,065
18
CIP 26.1001In Colorado
6
0.3%
1$39,202$18,000
19
CIP 26.9999In Colorado
4
0.2%
2$31,278$23,000
20
CIP 26.0910In Colorado
3
0.1%
1$31,146$23,384
21
CIP 26.1104In Colorado
3
0.1%
1$72,338$18,500
22
CIP 26.0210In Colorado
2
0.1%
1$38,243$23,014
23
CIP 26.0301In Colorado
2
0.1%
1$33,009$21,975

Top 25 schools in Colorado

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 11 of the 28 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1Colorado State University - Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO Public · 9 feeder programs
441Biology/Biological Sciences, General$32,95867%89%
2University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO Public · 3 feeder programs
440Ecology and Evolutionary Biology$37,18474%78%
3University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, CO Public · 14 feeder programs
401Biology/Biological Sciences, General$34,56246%75%
4Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver, CO Public · 2 feeder programs
233Biology/Biological Sciences, General$41,01832%99%
5University of Denver
Denver, CO Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
102Biology/Biological Sciences, General$36,39376%$29,72678%
6Colorado College
Colorado Springs, CO Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
90Ecology and Evolutionary Biology88%$23,51018%
7Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction, CO Public · 1 feeder programs
79Biology/Biological Sciences, General$32,56541%82%
8University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO Public · 1 feeder programs
79Biology/Biological Sciences, General$32,37447%97%
9University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO Public · 2 feeder programs
78Biology/Biological Sciences, General$34,64751%86%
10United States Air Force Academy
USAF Academy, CO Public · 1 feeder programs
75Biology/Biological Sciences, General88%14%
11Regis University
Denver, CO Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs
55Biology/Biological Sciences, General61%$22,40786%
12Western Colorado University
Gunnison, CO Public · 2 feeder programs
40Biology/Biological Sciences, General$29,88150%100%
13Colorado State University Pueblo
Pueblo, CO Public · 1 feeder programs
33Biology/Biological Sciences, General$38,93340%95%
14Fort Lewis College
Durango, CO Public · 4 feeder programs
33Biology/Biological Sciences, General$26,35036%77%
15Community College of Aurora
Aurora, CO Public · 1 feeder programs
19Biology/Biological Sciences, General33%
16Rocky Vista University
Parker, CO Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
17Infectious Disease and Global Health
17Adams State University
Alamosa, CO Public · 1 feeder programs
13Biology/Biological Sciences, General39%
18Community College of Denver
Denver, CO Public · 1 feeder programs
13Biology/Biological Sciences, General20%
19Colorado Mountain College
Glenwood Springs, CO Public · 1 feeder programs
11Ecology27%
20Red Rocks Community College
Lakewood, CO Public · 1 feeder programs
11Biology/Biological Sciences, General32%
21Front Range Community College
Westminster, CO Public · 1 feeder programs
9Biology/Biological Sciences, General35%
22Colorado Christian University
Lakewood, CO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
8Biology/Biological Sciences, General64%$23,447
23Arapahoe Community College
Littleton, CO Public · 1 feeder programs
7Biology/Biological Sciences, General29%
24Pikes Peak State College
Colorado Springs, CO Public · 1 feeder programs
5Biology/Biological Sciences, General21%
25Morgan Community College
Fort Morgan, CO Public · 1 feeder programs
2Biology/Biological Sciences, General45%

All 28 schools in Colorado

Every school in Colorado with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.

All schools in Colorado that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
Colorado State University - Fort CollinsFort CollinsPublic4419
University of Colorado BoulderBoulderPublic4403
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusDenverPublic40114
Metropolitan State University of DenverDenverPublic2332
University of DenverDenverPrivate not-for-profit1023
Colorado CollegeColorado SpringsPrivate not-for-profit903
Colorado Mesa UniversityGrand JunctionPublic791
University of Colorado Colorado SpringsColorado SpringsPublic791
University of Northern ColoradoGreeleyPublic782
United States Air Force AcademyUSAF AcademyPublic751
Regis UniversityDenverPrivate not-for-profit555
Western Colorado UniversityGunnisonPublic402
Colorado State University PuebloPuebloPublic331
Fort Lewis CollegeDurangoPublic334
Community College of AuroraAuroraPublic191

What biological scientists, all other earn in Colorado

What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.

Median annual in Colorado
$93,970
Mean annual
$96,660
Jobs in state
850
What the range looks like
10th pct$63,930Median$93,97090th pct$128,440
Versus the national median
-5.0%

U.S. median $98,920. Colorado pays below the national figure.

Job concentration
0.82×

1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.

Metro areas in Colorado

Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
$102,090median
250 jobs
Boulder, CO
$98,800median
150 jobs
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
$98,800median
210 jobs
Colorado Springs, CO
$97,140median
50 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
+1.2%
Little or no change
Openings per year
4,800
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
800
63,700 → 64,500
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.

How to get in

The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Biological Scientists, All Other page.

How to become a Biological Scientist, All Other

Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Top skills

ScienceReading ComprehensionWritingCritical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeaking

The same job in other states

Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.

Related careers in Colorado

Every major mapped to this job

The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.

All 25 majors mapped to Biological Scientists, All Other24 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
  • 26.0101Biology/Biological Sciences, General
  • 26.0204Molecular Biology
  • 26.0207Structural Biology
  • 26.0208Photobiology(no graduates reported)
  • 26.0209Radiation Biology/Radiobiology
  • 26.0210Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • 26.0299Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Other
  • 26.0301Botany/Plant Biology
  • 26.0305Plant Pathology/Phytopathology
  • 26.0307Plant Physiology
  • 26.0308Plant Molecular Biology
  • 26.0399Botany/Plant Biology, Other
  • 26.0401Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology
  • 26.0403Anatomy
  • 26.0404Developmental Biology and Embryology
  • 26.0406Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • 26.0407Cell Biology and Anatomy
  • 26.0499Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Other
  • 26.0503Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology
  • 26.0504Virology
  • 26.0505Parasitology
  • 26.0506Mycology
  • 26.0507Immunology
  • 26.0508Microbiology and Immunology
  • 26.0509Infectious Disease and Global Health

Common questions

Answers for people weighing biological scientists, all other programs in Colorado.

What degree do you need to become a Biological Scientist, All Other?+

Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Biology/Biological Sciences, General, which awarded 1,119 degrees in Colorado in 2024-25, 48.7% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.

Which college majors lead to becoming a Biological Scientist, All Other?+

The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 23 programs to this occupation. The largest are Biology, Ecology, Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Neurobiology and Neurosciences, plus 10 more. Together they graduate about 2,298 people a year in Colorado.

How much do biological scientists, all other earn in Colorado?+

The median is $93,970 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 5.0% below the U.S. median of $98,920. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.

Is demand for biological scientists, all other growing?+

BLS projects a +1.2% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, little or no change, with roughly 4,800 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.

How many schools offer programs for this career in Colorado?+

28 institutions in Colorado reported graduates from at least one of the 23 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.

What other job titles do biological scientists, all other work under?+

Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Botanist, Biologist, Scientist, Bioinformaticist, Medical Geneticist, Research Scientist among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 19-1029.

About the data on this page

Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).

  • BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics

    May 2025

    Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.

  • BLS Employment Projections

    2024–34

    Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.

  • IPEDS Completions

    2024-25 (provisional)

    Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.

  • College Scorecard, Field of Study

    2020-21 cohorts

    Median graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.

  • Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

    latest available

    Graduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.

  • NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk

    CIP 2020 / SOC 2018

    Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.

  • O*NET Database 30.3

    30.3

    Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.

    Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA

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