Best institutions to study Biotechnology
Compare 186 U.S. colleges offering Biotechnology by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 45 states.
Biotechnology programs report a median of $49,615 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 26.12 and the Natural Sciences Managers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Biotechnology programs
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 advancing technology in healthcare, agriculture, and environmental sustainability through innovative biological solutions.
Students in the Biotechnology program will develop essential skills in science, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework typically covers biology, chemistry, and the use of computers and electronics, preparing students for real-world applications in research and development.
Top 18 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Worcester State University Worcester, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,124 | 20 | 61% | — | $22,056 |
| 2 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $60,697 | 36 | 68% | — | $18,500 |
| 3 | University of California - Davis Davis, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,156 | 84 | 86% | — | $11,985 |
| 4 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $56,509 | 37 | 84% | — | $26,686 |
| 5 | Utah Valley University Orem, UT Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,118 | 23 | 45% | — | $16,500 |
| 6 | University of New Hampshire - Main Campus Durham, NH Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,276 | 14 | 76% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | University of New Hampshire at Manchester Manchester, NH Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,276 | 46 | 50% | — | $27,000 |
| 8 | University of Houston Houston, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,916 | 68 | 65% | — | $19,250 |
| 9 | California State University - San Marcos San Marcos, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,615 | 52 | 55% | — | $18,500 |
| 10 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · Graduate degree | $49,023 | 34 | 85% | — | $22,000 |
| 11 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,418 | 30 | 84% | $28,851 | $27,000 |
| 12 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KY Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,030 | 44 | 71% | — | $23,180 |
| 13 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,178 | 27 | 81% | $13,712 | — |
| 14 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,895 | 28 | 70% | $28,133 | $24,125 |
| 15 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,832 | 36 | 80% | — | $20,209 |
| 16 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,141 | 1 | 67% | — | $17,594 |
| 17 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,992 | 44 | 78% | — | $25,498 |
| 18 | Endicott College Beverly, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,308 | 19 | 76% | $34,195 | $27,000 |
Offered across 45 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-9121, Natural Sciences Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Biotechnology program can expect a career outlook that is about as fast as average, with an estimated annual opening of 8,500 positions. The median wage for professionals in this field is $161,180, and a typical education requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Biotechnology
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 26.12.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 26.12 (Biotechnology) maps to 3 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9121 | Natural Sciences Managersprimary |
| 19-1029 | Biological Scientists, All Other |
| 25-1042 | Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Biotechnology programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
- Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
- Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.
- Review project activities and prepare and review research, testing, or operational reports.
- Confer with scientists, engineers, regulators, or others to plan or review projects or to provide technical assistance.
- Develop client relationships and communicate with clients to explain proposals, present research findings, establish specifications, or discuss project status.
Concentrations within Biotechnology
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- BiotechnologyCIP 26.1201
A program that focuses on the application of the biological sciences, biochemistry, and genetics to the preparation of new and enhanced agricultural, environmental, clinical, and industrial products,
Common questions
What is biotechnology?+
Biotechnology is a field that integrates natural and engineering sciences to apply biological organisms for products and services.
What skills will I learn?+
You will learn skills in science, critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for biotechnology graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with approximately 8,500 annual openings.
What is the typical salary for biotechnology professionals?+
The median wage for biotechnology professionals is $161,180.
How much do Biotechnology graduates earn?+
Biotechnology graduates report median earnings of $49,615 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Natural Sciences Managers occupation pays about $180,250 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Biotechnology?+
Biotechnology maps to CIP 26.12 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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.
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