# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/biotechnology
- CIP code: 26.12 (Biological and Biomedical Sciences)
- Colleges offering it: 89 at its most common degree level

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

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 49 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Associate's | 53 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 89 | $50,374 | $77,678 | $22,250 |
| Master's | 89 | $93,790 | $114,247 | $42,441 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| First professional | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 32 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Worcester State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/worcester-state-university-3304) | Worcester, MA | $90,565 | $14,000 |
| [Rutgers University-New Brunswick](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rutgers-university-new-brunswick-main-campus-2279) | New Brunswick, NJ | $87,600 | $16,750 |
| [Syracuse University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/syracuse-university-2667) | Syracuse, NY | $87,596 | $26,250 |
| [University of California-Davis](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-davis-2882) | Davis, CA | $87,406 | $14,899 |
| [University of Houston](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-houston-main-campus-2920) | Houston, TX | $78,750 | $16,500 |
| [Endicott College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/endicott-college-919) | Beverly, MA | $78,735 | $27,000 |
| [California State University-San Marcos](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-san-marcos-377) | San Marcos, CA | $76,622 | $15,755 |
| [Rochester Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rochester-institute-of-technology-2250) | Rochester, NY | $74,613 | $25,750 |
| [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona-362) | Pomona, CA | $73,152 | $15,238 |
| [Utah Valley University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/utah-valley-university-3103) | Orem, UT | $67,603 | not reported |

## 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
- [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
- [Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biological-science-teachers-postsecondary): $84,620 median pay

## More in Biological and Biomedical Sciences

- [Biology, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/biology-general): 1,326 colleges
- [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

## 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/