Best colleges for Biochemical Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the study of biochemical processes in living organisms, properties of biological materials, and processes using biochemical agents such as cells, enzymes, and antibodies.
6 U.S. institutions graduated 112 Biochemical Engineering students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 14.4301, a specialization of Biochemical Engineering (CIP 14.43), and leads most directly to the Chemical Engineers occupation (BLS SOC 17-2041).
About Biochemical Engineering programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the study of biochemical processes in living organisms, properties of biological materials, and processes using biochemical agents such as cells, enzymes, and antibodies. Includes instruction in biology, chemistry, physics, biochemistry, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, bioprocesses, and chemical engineering.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Biochemical Engineering program prepares students to apply mathematical and scientific principles to understand biochemical processes in living organisms. This program is ideal for those interested in the intersection of biology and engineering, focusing on the properties of biological materials and the use of biochemical agents such as cells and enzymes.
Students in this program gain essential skills in science, mathematics, and critical thinking, with coursework covering biology, chemistry, physics, biochemistry, and thermodynamics. They also learn about bioprocesses and chemical engineering principles, equipping them for practical applications in various industries.
Credentials awarded
What Biochemical Engineering graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree66 graduates / yr · 3 institutions59%
- Master's degree38 graduates / yr · 4 institutions34%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate7 graduates / yr · 1 institution6.2%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.9%
Graduates over time
Biochemical Engineering completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 53 |
| 2013 | 58 |
| 2014 | 62 |
| 2015 | 66 |
| 2016 | 98 |
| 2017 | 111 |
| 2018 | 124 |
| 2019 | 118 |
| 2020 | 115 |
| 2021 | 105 |
| 2022 | 141 |
| 2023 | 139 |
| 2024 | 126 |
| 2025 | 112 |
Top 6 institutions for Biochemical Engineering, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field starting salary* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 33 | 90% | — | $67,201 |
| 2 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, COPublicBachelor's | 25 | 74% | — | $70,668 |
| 3 | Villanova University Villanova, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 20 | 92% | $33,774 | — |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicMaster's | 16 | 93% | — | — |
| 5 | University of California-Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor's | 10 | 86% | — | — |
| 6 | University of Delaware Newark, DEPublicMaster's | 8 | 81% | — | — |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Biochemical Engineering field (CIP 14.43) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 5 states
Where Biochemical Engineering graduates come from. Each state links to all Biochemical Engineering programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 1 | 33 | University of Georgia33 / yr |
| California | 2 | 26 | University of California-Berkeley16 / yr |
| Colorado | 1 | 25 | University of Colorado Boulder25 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 20 | Villanova University20 / yr |
| Delaware | 1 | 8 | University of Delaware8 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-2041, Chemical Engineers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Biochemical Engineering program can pursue careers as Chemical Engineers, with an average growth outlook of 2.6% and approximately 1,100 annual job openings. The median wage for this occupation is $121,860, and a typical education requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 14.4301
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Chemical Engineersprimary SOC 17-2041 | $125,040 | +2.6% About as fast as average | ~1,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Architectural and Engineering Managers SOC 11-9041 | $171,270 | +3.8% About as fast as average | ~14,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Engineers, All Other SOC 17-2199 | $122,930 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~9,300 | Bachelor's degree |
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1032 | $109,270 | +8.1% Much faster than average | ~4,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Biochemical Engineering programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
- Troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.
- Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.
- Evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
- Design and plan layout of equipment.
- Prepare estimate of production costs and production progress reports for management.
Tools and technology used
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in Biochemical Engineering?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Postbaccalaureate certificate, or a Doctor's degree in this field.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in science, critical thinking, mathematics, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Biochemical Engineering?+
You can work as a Chemical Engineer, Architectural and Engineering Manager, or in various engineering roles.
What is the job outlook for Chemical Engineers?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with 2.6% growth and 1,100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Biochemical Engineering?+
Biochemical Engineering is CIP 14.4301 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Biochemical Engineering (CIP 14.43). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the study of biochemical processes in living organisms, properties of biological materials, and processes using biochemical agents such as cells, enzymes, and antibodies. Includes instruction in biology, chemistry, physics, biochemistry, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, bioprocesses, and chemical engineering.
How many institutions offer Biochemical Engineering programs?+
6 U.S. institutions reported Biochemical Engineering graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 5 states, awarding 112 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Biochemical Engineering graduates.
How much do Biochemical Engineering graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Chemical Engineers occupation, which Biochemical Engineering most directly leads to, pays a median of $125,040 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Biochemical Engineering field report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $70,668, College Scorecard.
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all Biochemical Engineering graduates, so its figures match the Biochemical Engineering program page.
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