Best institutions to study Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
A program of study that combines the biological sub-disciplines of biochemistry and molecular biology.
98 U.S. institutions graduated 1,607 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 26.0210, a specialization of Biochemistry (CIP 26.02), and leads most directly to the Biochemists and Biophysicists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1021).
About Biochemistry and Molecular Biology programs
A program of study that combines the biological sub-disciplines of biochemistry and molecular biology. Includes instruction in general biology, general and organic chemistry, physics, biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, microbiology, genetics, and cellular biology.
See also: 26.0204 - Molecular Biology., 26.0202 - Biochemistry.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program focuses on the intersection of biological sciences and chemistry, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of living organisms at a molecular level. This program is ideal for those interested in exploring the biochemical processes that underpin life, making it suitable for aspiring scientists and researchers in the biological and biomedical fields.
Students in this program will gain essential knowledge in areas such as general biology, chemistry, physics, and genetics. Core skills developed include critical thinking, scientific writing, and effective communication, all of which are vital for success in scientific research and academia.
Credentials awarded
What Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree1,265 graduates / yr · 67 institutions79%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship175 graduates / yr · 32 institutions11%
- Master's degree163 graduates / yr · 27 institutions10%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate3 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.2%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 906 |
| 2013 | 958 |
| 2014 | 1,096 |
| 2015 | 1,004 |
| 2016 | 1,132 |
| 2017 | 1,237 |
| 2018 | 1,332 |
| 2019 | 1,359 |
| 2020 | 1,438 |
| 2021 | 1,491 |
| 2022 | 1,590 |
| 2023 | 1,627 |
| 2024 | 1,466 |
| 2025 | 1,607 |
Top 50 institutions for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 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 earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MAPublicBachelor's | 140 | 83% | — | $44,324 |
| 2 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 106 | 81% | — | $38,243 |
| 3 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 92 | 90% | — | $34,212 |
| 4 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 90 | 70% | — | $34,566 |
| 5 | University of Maryland - Baltimore County Baltimore, MDPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 70 | 70% | — | $30,275 |
| 6 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 66 | 89% | $21,956 | $42,850 |
| 7 | Yale University New Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 60 | 96% | $27,025 | — |
| 8 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 59 | 87% | — | $42,200 |
| 9 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SCPublicBachelor's | 59 | 79% | — | $23,763 |
| 10 | Middlebury College Middlebury, VTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 35 | 91% | $20,918 | $44,142 |
| 11 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 33 | 88% | $29,023 | $36,440 |
| 12 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoral | 32 | 89% | $20,914 | — |
| 13 | Cornell College Mount Vernon, IAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 31 | 62% | $23,073 | $39,164 |
| 14 | University of New Hampshire - Main Campus Durham, NHPublicBachelor's | 30 | 76% | — | $47,236 |
| 15 | Dickinson College Carlisle, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 30 | 80% | $22,831 | $35,305 |
| 16 | The College of Wooster Wooster, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 27 | 74% | $22,491 | — |
| 17 | Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FLPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 22 | 63% | $31,672 | — |
| 18 | Rollins College Winter Park, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 20 | 75% | $31,438 | — |
| 19 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 20 | 78% | $36,004 | — |
| 20 | Hendrix College Conway, ARPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 19 | 72% | $22,415 | $28,322 |
| 21 | Clark University Worcester, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 18 | 77% | $23,332 | — |
| 22 | Hope College Holland, MIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 18 | 80% | $21,746 | — |
| 23 | University at Albany Albany, NYPublicBachelor's | 18 | 61% | — | $33,266 |
| 24 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 17 | 97% | $22,055 | — |
| 25 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicMaster's | 16 | 91% | — | — |
| 26 | Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science Rochester, MNPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 16 | — | — | — |
| 27 | Centre College Danville, KYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 15 | 81% | $18,407 | — |
| 28 | Simmons University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 15 | 72% | $24,848 | — |
| 29 | Washington State University Pullman, WAPublicDoctoralMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 15 | 60% | — | $46,514 |
| 30 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 14 | 92% | $26,873 | $34,468 |
| 31 | Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 13 | 82% | $19,073 | — |
| 32 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, TXPublicMaster's | 13 | 51% | — | — |
| 33 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 13 | 83% | — | $41,625 |
| 34 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicDoctoralMaster's | 12 | 85% | — | $37,830 |
| 35 | Truman State University Kirksville, MOPublicBachelor's | 12 | 69% | — | — |
| 36 | Belmont University Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 12 | 71% | $29,246 | — |
| 37 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 11 | 43% | $21,535 | — |
| 38 | California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 11 | 94% | $17,608 | — |
| 39 | Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, MNPublicBachelor's | 11 | 40% | — | — |
| 40 | Benedictine University Lisle, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 50% | $23,570 | — |
| 41 | Michigan Technological University Houghton, MIPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 10 | 68% | — | — |
| 42 | Houston Christian University Houston, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 49% | $21,247 | — |
| 43 | Marquette University Milwaukee, WIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 83% | $25,376 | — |
| 44 | Boise State University Boise, IDPublicMaster's | 9 | 60% | — | — |
| 45 | Idaho State University Pocatello, IDPublicBachelor's | 9 | 39% | — | — |
| 46 | University of Maryland, Baltimore Baltimore, MDPublicDoctoralMaster's | 9 | — | — | — |
| 47 | Bethel University Saint Paul, MNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 9 | 71% | $25,225 | — |
| 48 | Wright State University - Main Campus Dayton, OHPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 9 | 42% | — | — |
| 49 | Anderson University Anderson, SCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 9 | 66% | $24,812 | — |
| 50 | Harding University Searcy, ARPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 69% | $19,423 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Biochemistry field (CIP 26.02) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 39 states & territories
Where Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduates come from. Each state links to all Biochemistry programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1021, Biochemists and Biophysicists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program can pursue careers as biochemists and biophysicists, with a job outlook that is faster than average, featuring an annual growth rate of 5.8% and approximately 2,900 annual openings. The median wage for these professionals is around $103,650, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 26.0210
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Biochemists and Biophysicistsprimary SOC 19-1021 | $127,410 | +5.8% Faster than average | ~2,900 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Natural Sciences Managers SOC 11-9121 | $167,220 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1042 | $84,620 | +7.3% Faster than average | ~5,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Biological Scientists, All Other SOC 19-1029 | $98,920 | +1.2% Little or no change | ~4,800 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- 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).
- Experience
- 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.
- Training
- 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.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 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
- Share research findings by writing scientific articles or by making presentations at scientific conferences.
- Teach or advise undergraduate or graduate students or supervise their research.
- Study physical principles of living cells or organisms and their electrical or mechanical energy, applying methods and knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, or biology.
- Manage laboratory teams or monitor the quality of a team's work.
- Develop new methods to study the mechanisms of biological processes.
- Write grant proposals to obtain funding for research.
Tools and technology used
Other Biochemistry specializations
The 9 other 6-digit CIP codes under Biochemistry (CIP 26.02).
- BiochemistryCIP 26.020210,036 graduates / yr593 institutions
- Molecular BiologyCIP 26.02041,352 graduates / yr75 institutions
- Molecular BiochemistryCIP 26.0205494 graduates / yr18 institutions
- BiochemistryCIP 26.0299330 graduates / yr21 institutions
- BiophysicsCIP 26.0203266 graduates / yr52 institutions
- Molecular BiophysicsCIP 26.0206partial data207 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Radiation Biology/CIP 26.0209
Radiobiology partial data25 graduates / yr5 institutions - Structural BiologyCIP 26.0207limited data17 graduates / yr2 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Photobiology26.0208
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Doctor's degree, or a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in science, critical thinking, writing, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as a biochemist, natural sciences manager, or biological science teacher, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for biochemists?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 5.8% and about 2,900 openings annually.
What is the CIP code for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology?+
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is CIP 26.0210 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Biochemistry (CIP 26.02). NCES defines it as: A program of study that combines the biological sub-disciplines of biochemistry and molecular biology. Includes instruction in general biology, general and organic chemistry, physics, biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, microbiology, genetics, and cellular biology.
How many institutions offer Biochemistry and Molecular Biology programs?+
98 U.S. institutions reported Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 39 states & territories, awarding 1,607 credentials in the year. That is 11.2% of all Biochemistry graduates.
How much do Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Biochemists and Biophysicists occupation, which Biochemistry and Molecular Biology most directly leads to, pays a median of $127,410 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Biochemistry field report median earnings of $38,243 one year after graduation (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.
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