# Biology, General

> A general program of biology at the introductory, basic level or a program in biology or the biological sciences that is undifferentiated as to title or content. Includes instruction in general biology and programs covering a variety of biological specializations.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/biology-general
- CIP code: 26.01 (Biological and Biomedical Sciences)
- Colleges offering it: 1,326 at its most common degree level
- Value ranking: https://www.collegesref.com/best-colleges/biology

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 50 | not reported | $55,777 | not reported |
| Associate's | 412 | $34,880 | $45,194 | $11,083 |
| Bachelor's | 1,326 | $37,280 | $57,557 | $21,500 |
| Master's | 430 | $47,791 | $71,905 | $39,040 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 10 | $24,016 | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 177 | $79,788 | $108,205 | not reported |
| First professional | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 62 | $32,134 | not reported | $36,404 |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Carlow University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carlow-university-405) | Pittsburgh, PA | $134,677 | $26,774 |
| [Providence College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/providence-college-2158) | Providence, RI | $93,757 | $27,000 |
| [Seton Hall University-New Jersey](https://www.collegesref.com/college/seton-hall-university-new-jersey-2399) | South Orange, NJ | $93,200 | $22,375 |
| [College of the Holy Cross](https://www.collegesref.com/college/college-of-the-holy-cross-626) | Worcester, MA | $92,914 | $19,375 |
| [University of Detroit Mercy](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-detroit-mercy-2907) | Detroit, MI | $91,888 | $18,642 |
| [Yeshiva University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/yeshiva-university-3345) | New York, NY | $90,456 | $16,392 |
| [Ohio Dominican University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ohio-dominican-university-1996) | Columbus, OH | $90,431 | $25,309 |
| [Marquette University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/marquette-university-1598) | Milwaukee, WI | $88,921 | $24,109 |
| [Union College-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/union-college-new-york-2840) | Schenectady, NY | $87,208 | $24,167 |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dartmouth-college-769) | Hanover, NH | $87,026 | $15,500 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Clinical Research Coordinators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/clinical-research-coordinators): $167,220 median pay
- [Natural Sciences Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/natural-sciences-managers): $167,220 median pay
- [Water Resource Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/water-resource-specialists): $167,220 median pay
- [Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-scientists-except-epidemiologists): $103,410 median pay
- [Bioinformatics Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/bioinformatics-scientists): $98,920 median pay
- [Biological Scientists, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biological-scientists-all-other): $98,920 median pay
- [Biologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biologists): $98,920 median pay
- [Geneticists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/geneticists): $98,920 median pay
- [Molecular and Cellular Biologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/molecular-and-cellular-biologists): $98,920 median pay
- [Life Scientists, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/life-scientists-all-other): $93,750 median pay
- [Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biological-science-teachers-postsecondary): $84,620 median pay
- [Forensic Science Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/forensic-science-technicians): $72,060 median pay
- [Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/secondary-school-teachers-except-special-and-career-technical-education): $72,040 median pay
- [Biological Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biological-technicians): $57,510 median pay
- [Food Science Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/food-science-technicians): $52,130 median pay
- [Agricultural Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/agricultural-technicians): $49,630 median pay
- [Precision Agriculture Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/precision-agriculture-technicians): $49,630 median pay

## More in Biological and Biomedical Sciences

- [Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/biochemistry-biophysics-and-molecular-biology): 709 colleges
- [Neurobiology and Neurosciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/neurobiology-and-neurosciences): 316 colleges
- [Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/ecology-evolution-systematics-and-population-biology): 251 colleges
- [Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/physiology-pathology-and-related-sciences): 169 colleges
- [Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/biomathematics-bioinformatics-and-computational-biology): 119 colleges
- [Microbiological Sciences and Immunology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/microbiological-sciences-and-immunology): 111 colleges
- [Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/cell-cellular-biology-and-anatomical-sciences): 101 colleges
- [Zoology/Animal Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/zoology-animal-biology): 97 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/