Best institutions to study Biochemistry
Any instructional program in biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology not listed above.
21 U.S. institutions graduated 330 Biochemistry students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 26.0299, a specialization of Biochemistry (CIP 26.02), and leads most directly to the Biological Scientists, All Other occupation (BLS SOC 19-1029).
About Biochemistry programs
Any instructional program in biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Biochemistry program focuses on the study of the chemical processes and substances that occur within living organisms. This interdisciplinary field combines principles from biology, chemistry, and physics to understand the molecular mechanisms of life. It is ideal for students interested in pursuing careers in biological and biomedical sciences.
Students in this program will engage with core topics such as molecular biology, biophysics, and comparative biochemistry. Coursework typically emphasizes laboratory techniques, analytical methods, and the biochemical basis of cellular functions.
Credentials awarded
What Biochemistry graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree223 graduates / yr · 11 institutions68%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship61 graduates / yr · 9 institutions19%
- Master's degree45 graduates / yr · 5 institutions14%
- Associate's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.3%
Graduates over time
Biochemistry completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 240 |
| 2013 | 228 |
| 2014 | 226 |
| 2015 | 235 |
| 2016 | 240 |
| 2017 | 273 |
| 2018 | 276 |
| 2019 | 259 |
| 2020 | 286 |
| 2021 | 256 |
| 2022 | 284 |
| 2023 | 309 |
| 2024 | 315 |
| 2025 | 330 |
Top 21 institutions for Biochemistry, 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 California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 56 | 83% | — | $49,100 |
| 2 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoral | 46 | 94% | $14,126 | — |
| 3 | Drake University Des Moines, IAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 34 | 74% | $28,855 | — |
| 4 | Amherst College Amherst, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 27 | 94% | $16,081 | — |
| 5 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 27 | 84% | $28,900 | — |
| 6 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 24 | 86% | — | $45,066 |
| 7 | Georgetown University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 20 | 95% | $22,242 | — |
| 8 | Towson University Towson, MDPublicBachelor's | 19 | 69% | — | $36,842 |
| 9 | Whitman College Walla Walla, WAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 17 | 81% | $28,508 | — |
| 10 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicDoctoral | 13 | 86% | — | $42,266 |
| 11 | University of Scranton Scranton, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 80% | $25,834 | — |
| 12 | Stanford University Stanford, CAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 7 | 92% | $12,032 | — |
| 13 | Huntingdon College Montgomery, ALPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 48% | $21,604 | — |
| 14 | Augusta University Augusta, GAPublicMaster's | 6 | 49% | — | — |
| 15 | North Park University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 58% | $18,494 | — |
| 16 | California Baptist University Riverside, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 62% | $26,940 | — |
| 17 | Boise State University Boise, IDPublicDoctoral | 4 | 60% | — | — |
| 18 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NCPublicDoctoral | 3 | 56% | — | $36,783 |
| 19 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | 92% | $26,873 | $34,468 |
| 20 | Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TXPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 2 | — | — | — |
| 21 | Bay de Noc Community College Escanaba, MIPublicAssociate's | 1 | 30% | — | — |
* 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 16 states
Where Biochemistry graduates come from. Each state links to all Biochemistry programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 6 | 106 | University of California - Santa Barbara56 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 46 | Washington University in St Louis46 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 34 | Drake University34 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 27 | Amherst College27 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 27 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute27 / yr |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 20 | Georgetown University20 / yr |
| Maryland | 1 | 19 | Towson University19 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 17 | Whitman College17 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 7 | University of Scranton7 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 6 | Huntingdon College6 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 6 | Augusta University6 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 5 | North Park University5 / yr |
| Idaho | 1 | 4 | Boise State University4 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 3 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro3 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 2 | Baylor College of Medicine2 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | Bay de Noc Community College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1029, Biological Scientists, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Biochemistry program can pursue various careers, including roles as biological scientists, natural sciences managers, and postsecondary biological science teachers. The job outlook shows little or no change, with an annual opening of approximately 4,800 positions and a median wage of $93,330, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 26.0299
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological Scientists, All Otherprimary SOC 19-1029 | $98,920 | +1.2% Little or no change | ~4,800 | Bachelor's 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 |
Related careers
Other Biochemistry specializations
The 9 other 6-digit CIP codes under Biochemistry (CIP 26.02).
- BiochemistryCIP 26.020210,036 graduates / yr593 institutions
- Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyCIP 26.02101,607 graduates / yr98 institutions
- Molecular BiologyCIP 26.02041,352 graduates / yr75 institutions
- Molecular BiochemistryCIP 26.0205494 graduates / yr18 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, or Doctor's degree in Biochemistry.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 21 colleges offering the Biochemistry program across the United States.
What is the typical career path for graduates?+
Graduates often become biological scientists, natural sciences managers, or educators in the biological sciences.
What is the job outlook for biochemistry graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with an annual opening of about 4,800 positions.
What is the CIP code for Biochemistry?+
Biochemistry is CIP 26.0299 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Biochemistry (CIP 26.02). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology not listed above.
How many institutions offer Biochemistry programs?+
21 U.S. institutions reported Biochemistry graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 16 states, awarding 330 credentials in the year. That is 2.3% of all Biochemistry graduates.
How much do Biochemistry graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Biological Scientists, All Other occupation, which Biochemistry most directly leads to, pays a median of $98,920 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Biochemistry field report median earnings of $42,266 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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