North Carolina · Biotechnology

Best colleges for Biotechnology in North Carolina

Ranked by graduate earnings

Gaston College, Wake Technical Community College and Cleveland Community College award the most Biotechnology degrees and certificates in North Carolina: 512, 75 and 44 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 8 North Carolina colleges offer Biotechnology and award 678 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Biotechnology program is a multidisciplinary field that merges natural sciences and engineering to apply biological organisms and their components for various products and services. This program is ideal for students interested in…

Institutions
8
offering CIP 26.12
States offered
45
with a program page
Degrees / yr
678
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$49,023
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
1
College Scorecard
Median net price
$20,914
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
54%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Natural Sciences Managers
$186,890
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top institution, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh Public · Graduate degree
$49,0233485%—$22,000

Colleges awarding the most Biotechnology degrees in North Carolina

Top 7 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Gaston College
Dallas Public
512Not reported
2Wake Technical Community College
Raleigh Public
75Not reported
3Cleveland Community College
Shelby Public
44Not reported
4North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh Public
34$49,023
5Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem Private not-for-profit
4Not reported
6University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte Public
2Not reported
7Pitt Community College
Winterville Public
1Not reported
Show the other 1 North Carolina colleges offering Biotechnology
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Wilson Community CollegeWilsonPublic6

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Natural Sciences Managers (SOC 11-9121).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+3.7%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~8,500
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$161,180
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

ScienceActive ListeningMonitoringCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionWriting

What Natural Sciences Managers earn in North Carolina

Jobs in North Carolina
6,010
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$186,890
median $173,870
Best-paying metro
$200,320
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Related careers

Biological Scientists, All Other
$105,590 avg · 2,780 jobs
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
$87,520 avg · 1,960 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Biotechnology programs in North Carolina.

Which North Carolina colleges award the most Biotechnology degrees?+

Gaston College (512 graduates a year), Wake Technical Community College (75 graduates a year) and Cleveland Community College (44 graduates a year) award the most Biotechnology degrees and certificates in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 8 North Carolina colleges offer Biotechnology.

Which Biotechnology program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, North Carolina State University at Raleigh tops the list at $49,023. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Natural Sciences Managers earn in North Carolina?+

The average annual wage for Natural Sciences Managers in North Carolina is $186,890 (median $173,870), across about 6,010 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Biotechnology program?+

The Biotechnology program is a multidisciplinary field that merges natural sciences and engineering to apply biological organisms and their components for various products and services. This program is ideal for students interested in…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop science, active listening, monitoring, critical thinking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Natural Sciences Managers?+

The national job outlook is about +3.7% growth with around 8,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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