Best colleges for Human Biology
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Human Biology by graduate earnings are Stanford University ($50,179), Brown University ($42,162) and University of California-Los Angeles ($33,628), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Stanford University (Stanford, CA): $50,179, 141 graduates a year
- Brown University (Providence, RI): $42,162, 60 graduates a year
- University of California-Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA): $33,628, 209 graduates a year
- CUNY Hunter College (New York, NY): $31,891, 506 graduates a year
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus (Seattle, WA): $31,488, 118 graduates a year
Compare 33 U.S. colleges offering Human Biology by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 16 states.
Human Biology programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $31,891 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 30.27 and the Anthropologists and Archeologists occupation (BLS SOC).
About Human Biology programs
The Human Biology program is an interdisciplinary area of study that explores the complexities of human beings through various fields such as genetics, physiology, anthropology, and ecology. It is designed for students interested in understanding human functionality and the diverse factors that influence it, including sociocultural aspects and health care systems.
Students in the Human Biology program develop essential skills in writing, critical thinking, and active learning. Coursework often includes sociology, anthropology, and research methodologies, equipping students with the knowledge to analyze human behavior and societal patterns.
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University Stanford, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,179 | 141 | 92% | $12,032 | $12,500 |
| 2 | Brown University Providence, RI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,162 | 60 | 96% | $14,644 | $16,500 |
| 3 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,628 | 209 | 93% | — | $12,500 |
| 4 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,891 | 506 | 57% | — | $11,000 |
| 5 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,488 | 118 | 85% | — | $18,125 |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Green Bay, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,493 | 63 | 48% | — | $21,121 |
| 7 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $23,405 | 292 | 92% | $26,873 | $14,500 |
| 8 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $19,916 | 22 | 94% | $11,888 | $12,138 |
| 9 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $12,187 | 126 | 87% | — | $20,900 |
| 10 | Hamline University Saint Paul, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,612 | 7 | 60% | $20,981 | $25,500 |
Specializations within Human Biology
1 of the 1 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 30.27 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 16 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Islandlimited | 1 | $42,162 | Brown University |
| Minnesota | 3 | $39,612 | Hamline University |
| California | 7 | $33,628 | Stanford University |
| New York | 4 | $31,891 | CUNY Hunter College |
| Washington | 3 | $31,488 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus |
| Wisconsinlimited | 1 | $28,493 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay |
| Marylandlimited | 2 | $19,916 | Johns Hopkins University |
| Arkansaslimited | 1 | — | — |
| Floridalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Indianalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Kansas | 3 | — | — |
| Michiganlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Nevadalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Oregonlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Virginialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Idaholimited | 1 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3091, Anthropologists and Archeologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Human Biology program can pursue careers in research, education, and health-related fields. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 3.7% and approximately 800 annual openings. The median wage for related occupations is $64,910, typically requiring a master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Human Biology
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 30.27.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 30.27 (Human Biology) maps to 6 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 Managers |
| 19-1029 | Biological Scientists, All Other |
| 19-3091 | Anthropologists and Archeologistsprimary |
| 19-3099 | Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other |
| 25-1042 | Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-1069 | Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Human Biology 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
- Collect information and make judgments through observation, interviews, and review of documents.
- Teach or mentor undergraduate and graduate students in anthropology or archeology.
- Write about and present research findings for a variety of specialized and general audiences.
- Plan and direct research to characterize and compare the economic, demographic, health care, social, political, linguistic, and religious institutions of distinct cultural groups, communities, and organizations.
- Create data records for use in describing and analyzing social patterns and processes, using photography, videography, and audio recordings.
- Train others in the application of ethnographic research methods to solve problems in organizational effectiveness, communications, technology development, policy making, and program planning.
Common questions
What is Human Biology?+
Human Biology is an interdisciplinary study examining humans through genetics, physiology, anthropology, and more.
What skills will I learn?+
Students will develop skills in writing, critical thinking, and active learning, among others.
What careers can I pursue?+
Graduates can work in research, education, and health-related fields.
What is the job outlook?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 3.7% and 800 annual openings.
How much do Human Biology graduates earn?+
Human Biology graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $31,891, College Scorecard (2019); the Anthropologists and Archeologists occupation pays about $75,620 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Human Biology?+
Human Biology maps to CIP 30.27 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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