Bright outlook
Management
Clinical Research Coordinators
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
ProgramsBiological and Biomedical Sciences
Biotechnology
CIP26.12
89 colleges offer Biotechnology. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 89
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $77,678
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $22,250
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 49
- Associate's
- 53
- Bachelor's
- 89
- Master's
- 89
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 5
- Doctoral
- 10
- First professional
- 1
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 32
What it covers
About Biotechnology
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, including the commercial exploitation of microbes, plants, and animals. Includes instruction in bioinformatics, gene identification, phylogenetics and comparative genomics, bioinorganic chemistry, immunoassaying, DNA sequencing, xenotransplantation, genetic engineering, industrial microbiology, drug and biologic development, enzyme-based production processes, patent law, biotechnology management and marketing, applicable regulations, and biotechnology ethics.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 26.12.
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 49 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Associate's | 53 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Bachelor's | 89 | $77,6784 yrs after · 12 colleges | $22,25017 colleges |
| Master's | 89 | $114,2474 yrs after · 12 colleges | $42,4417 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 10 | Not reported | Not reported |
| First professional | 1 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 32 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Biotechnology graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Worcester, MA · Public · 18 graduates
$90,565
debt $14,000
- 2
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ · Public · 34 graduates
$87,600
debt $16,750
- 3
Syracuse, NY · Private nonprofit · 14 graduates
$87,596
debt $26,250
- 4
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · Public · 70 graduates
$87,406
debt $14,899
- 5
Houston, TX · Public · 85 graduates
$78,750
debt $16,500
- 6
Beverly, MA · Private nonprofit · 14 graduates
$78,735
debt $27,000
- 7
California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, CA · Public · 29 graduates
$76,622
debt $15,755
- 8
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, NY · Private nonprofit · 30 graduates
$74,613
debt $25,750
- 9
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA · Public · 34 graduates
$73,152
debt $15,238
- 10
Orem, UT · Public · 24 graduates
$67,603
debt not reported
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Biotechnology by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Natural Sciences Managers
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Science
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Bright outlook
Management
Water Resource Specialists
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Bright outlook
Science
Bioinformatics Scientists
- Median pay
- $98,920
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
- Bright outlook
Science
Biological Scientists, All Other
- Median pay
- $98,920
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook
Science
Biologists
- Median pay
- $98,920
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Science
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Bright outlook
Science
Geneticists
- Median pay
- $98,920
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Science
- Active Learning
- Bright outlook
Science
Molecular and Cellular Biologists
- Median pay
- $98,920
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Science
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
More in Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this area- Biology, General1,326 colleges
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology709 colleges
- Neurobiology and Neurosciences316 colleges
- Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology251 colleges
- Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences169 colleges
- Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology119 colleges
- Microbiological Sciences and Immunology111 colleges
- Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences101 colleges
Questions about Biotechnology
How many colleges offer Biotechnology?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Biotechnology at these degree levels: certificate (49 colleges), associate's (53 colleges), bachelor's (89 colleges), master's (89 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (5 colleges), doctoral (10 colleges), first professional (1 college), graduate/professional certificate (32 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Biotechnology graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Biotechnology earn $77,678 a year four years after finishing, across 12 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Biotechnology graduates earn the most?
Worcester State University reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Biotechnology: $90,565 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.