Best institutions to study Population Biology
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the natural history, life cycle behavior, and ecosystem dynamics of single species and multi-species communities, and the patterns and causes of diversity within and among such populations.
3 U.S. institutions graduated 10 Population Biology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 26.1306, a specialization of Ecology (CIP 26.13), and leads most directly to the Biological Scientists, All Other occupation (BLS SOC 19-1029).
About Population Biology programs
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the natural history, life cycle behavior, and ecosystem dynamics of single species and multi-species communities, and the patterns and causes of diversity within and among such populations. Includes instruction in biostatistics, population dynamics, population and quantitative genetics, RNA and DNA sequences, genomics, evolutionary ecology, natural adaptation and hybridization, geographic differentiation, life history and life cycle studies, and animal and plant demography.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Population Biology program, a branch of Ecology, focuses on the scientific study of the natural history, life cycle behavior, and ecosystem dynamics of both single species and multi-species communities. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding biodiversity patterns and the factors that influence population dynamics in various ecosystems.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in biostatistics, population dynamics, genetics, and evolutionary ecology. Coursework typically includes studies on natural adaptation, hybridization, and demographic analysis of both animal and plant populations.
Credentials awarded
What Population Biology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship5 graduates / yr · 1 institution50%
- Master's degree4 graduates / yr · 2 institutions40%
- Bachelor's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution10%
Graduates over time
Population Biology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 21 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 34 |
| 2019 | 20 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 15 |
| 2022 | 17 |
| 2023 | 29 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 10 |
Top 3 institutions for Population 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 California - Davis Davis, CAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 6 | 86% | — | $32,161 |
| 2 | Texas State University San Marcos, TXPublicMaster's | 3 | 55% | — | — |
| 3 | Saint Vincent College Latrobe, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 69% | $21,124 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Ecology field (CIP 26.13) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 3 states
Where Population Biology graduates come from. Each state links to all Ecology programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1 | 6 | University of California - Davis6 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 3 | Texas State University3 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 1 | Saint Vincent College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1029, Biological Scientists, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Population Biology program can pursue careers as Biological Scientists or Biological Science Teachers at the postsecondary level. With an expected annual opening of 4,800 positions and a median wage of $93,330, the job outlook shows little or no change, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree for entry-level roles.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 26.1306
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 |
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1042 | $84,620 | +7.3% Faster than average | ~5,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Related careers
Other Ecology specializations
The 11 other 6-digit CIP codes under Ecology (CIP 26.13).
- EpidemiologyCIP 26.13093,001 graduates / yr102 institutions
- Marine Biology and Biological OceanographyCIP 26.13022,636 graduates / yr84 institutions
- EcologyCIP 26.13011,166 graduates / yr67 institutions
- Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyCIP 26.1310879 graduates / yr42 institutions
- Environmental BiologyCIP 26.1305481 graduates / yr51 institutions
- Conservation BiologyCIP 26.1307405 graduates / yr37 institutions
- EcologyCIP 26.1399344 graduates / yr17 institutions
- Epidemiology and BiostatisticsCIP 26.1311248 graduates / yr19 institutions
- Evolutionary BiologyCIP 26.1303192 graduates / yr14 institutions
- Aquatic Biology/CIP 26.1304
Limnology partial data126 graduates / yr9 institutions - Systematic Biology/CIP 26.1308
Biological Systematics limited data24 graduates / yr2 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in Population Biology?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree in Population Biology.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in biostatistics, population dynamics, and ecological analysis.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as a Biological Scientist or a Biological Science Teacher.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with 4,800 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Population Biology?+
Population Biology is CIP 26.1306 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Ecology (CIP 26.13). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the scientific study of the natural history, life cycle behavior, and ecosystem dynamics of single species and multi-species communities, and the patterns and causes of diversity within and among such populations. Includes instruction in biostatistics, population dynamics, population and quantitative genetics, RNA and DNA sequences, genomics, evolutionary ecology, natural adaptation and hybridization, geographic differentiation, life history and life cycle studies, and animal and plant demography.
How many institutions offer Population Biology programs?+
3 U.S. institutions reported Population Biology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 3 states, awarding 10 credentials in the year. That is 0.1% of all Ecology graduates.
How much do Population Biology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Biological Scientists, All Other occupation, which Population Biology most directly leads to, pays a median of $98,920 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Ecology field report median earnings of $32,161 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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