Best Schools for Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology graduates earn a median of $66,359 within four years of graduating, ranking #193 out of 283 tracked majors — 6% above the median across all fields. There are 153 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 5,475 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: University of California-Santa Barbara graduates earn $90,694 while University of Hawaii at Manoa graduates earn $43,080 — a $47,614 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is modest: Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology graduates see an average 5% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

153
Schools
$66,359
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#193
of 283 Majors
5,475
Graduates

Public vs Private: Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology

Public (109 schools)
$66,332
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (44 schools)
$66,519
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $187 more in early earnings on average for Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology by State

Also by state: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin

Top Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
University of California-Santa Barbara logo

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

$90,694
4yr Earnings
29 grads · small sample
2yr: $21,508 (21)
1yr: $28,592 (18)
Acceptance: 27.8%
#2
Northeastern University logo

Northeastern University

Boston, MA · Private

$90,612
4yr Earnings
21 grads · small sample
2yr: $44,933 (36)
1yr: $48,487 (43)
Acceptance: 5.7%
#3
University of California-Santa Cruz logo

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Public

$88,305
4yr Earnings
50 grads
2yr: $35,060 (34)
1yr: $38,972 (54)
Acceptance: 62.5%
#4
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus logo

University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

Durham, NH · Public

$87,075
4yr Earnings
22 grads · small sample
2yr: $42,682 (32)
1yr: $43,279 (23)
Acceptance: 86.9%
#5
University of Massachusetts-Boston logo

University of Massachusetts-Boston

Boston, MA · Public

$85,296
4yr Earnings
21 grads · small sample
2yr: $38,289 (24)
1yr: $36,866 (20)
Acceptance: 83.0%
#6
University of San Diego logo

University of San Diego

San Diego, CA · Private

$83,380
4yr Earnings
18 grads · small sample
2yr: $45,383 (24)
1yr: $38,981 (19)
Acceptance: 46.8%
#7
University of Kansas logo

University of Kansas

Lawrence, KS · Public

$81,568
4yr Earnings
17 grads · small sample
2yr: $31,848 (18)
1yr: $44,752 (28)
Acceptance: 88.2%
#8
Montclair State University logo

Montclair State University

Montclair, NJ · Public

$81,519
4yr Earnings
37 grads
2yr: $28,236 (22)
1yr: $32,315 (40)
Acceptance: 87.4%
#9
University of Vermont logo

University of Vermont

Burlington, VT · Public

$80,593
4yr Earnings
16 grads · small sample
2yr: $39,592 (24)
Acceptance: 60.0%
#10
University of Maryland-College Park logo

University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD · Public

$80,470
4yr Earnings
18 grads · small sample
2yr: $30,616 (29)
1yr: $31,708 (32)
Acceptance: 44.8%
#11
Temple University logo

Temple University

Philadelphia, PA · Public

$80,364
4yr Earnings
29 grads · small sample
2yr: $33,993 (25)
1yr: $31,460 (46)
Acceptance: 82.9%
#12
California State University-Long Beach logo

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

$79,820
4yr Earnings
28 grads · small sample
2yr: $32,332 (54)
1yr: $35,185 (39)
Acceptance: 47.1%
#13
Rutgers University-Camden logo

Rutgers University-Camden

Camden, NJ · Public

$79,510
4yr Earnings
25 grads · small sample
2yr: $33,993 (30)
Acceptance: 77.8%
#14
Rutgers University-New Brunswick logo

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Brunswick, NJ · Public

$79,510
4yr Earnings
25 grads · small sample
2yr: $33,993 (30)
Acceptance: 65.3%
#15
Indiana University-Bloomington logo

Indiana University-Bloomington

Bloomington, IN · Public

$78,721
4yr Earnings
20 grads · small sample
2yr: $29,685 (16)
1yr: $36,680 (21)
Acceptance: 80.4%
#16
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo logo

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

$78,097
4yr Earnings
28 grads · small sample
2yr: $32,569 (23)
1yr: $37,312 (21)
Acceptance: 29.8%
#17
California State University-East Bay logo

California State University-East Bay

Hayward, CA · Public

$77,863
4yr Earnings
22 grads · small sample
1yr: $41,513 (25)
Acceptance: 96.8%
#18
University of Massachusetts-Amherst logo

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Amherst, MA · Public

$77,853
4yr Earnings
67 grads
2yr: $38,289 (87)
1yr: $39,509 (110)
Acceptance: 57.8%
#19
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks logo

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks

Reading, PA · Public

$77,336
4yr Earnings
74 grads
2yr: $35,952 (53)
1yr: $30,110 (90)
Acceptance: 97.1%
#20
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus logo

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PA · Public

$77,336
4yr Earnings
74 grads
2yr: $35,952 (53)
1yr: $30,110 (90)
Acceptance: 54.2%
#21
Western Washington University logo

Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · Public

$77,048
4yr Earnings
16 grads · small sample
1yr: $34,529 (26)
Acceptance: 91.3%
#22
San Francisco State University logo

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$76,134
4yr Earnings
47 grads
2yr: $44,276 (47)
1yr: $36,024 (46)
Acceptance: 96.2%
#23
Portland State University logo

Portland State University

Portland, OR · Public

$75,765
4yr Earnings
22 grads · small sample
2yr: $30,409 (19)
1yr: $39,299 (25)
Acceptance: 90.9%
#24
University of Maryland-Baltimore County logo

University of Maryland-Baltimore County

Baltimore, MD · Public

$75,493
4yr Earnings
33 grads
2yr: $35,060 (38)
1yr: $32,586 (46)
Acceptance: 74.2%
#25
Boston College logo

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA · Private

$75,274
4yr Earnings
16 grads · small sample
2yr: $31,133 (33)
1yr: $34,995 (24)
Acceptance: 15.7%
#26
University of Delaware logo

University of Delaware

Newark, DE · Public

$74,190
4yr Earnings
21 grads · small sample
1yr: $45,447 (23)
Acceptance: 65.1%
#27
Stevenson University logo

Stevenson University

Owings Mills, MD · Private

$73,584
4yr Earnings
18 grads · small sample
Acceptance: 83.2%
#28
University of California-Los Angeles logo

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$73,506
4yr Earnings
89 grads
2yr: $28,598 (93)
1yr: $30,054 (142)
Acceptance: 8.7%
#29
University of Wisconsin-Madison logo

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public

$72,988
4yr Earnings
88 grads
2yr: $36,924 (112)
1yr: $34,941 (130)
Acceptance: 43.4%
#30
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus logo

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Atlanta, GA · Public

$72,940
4yr Earnings
17 grads · small sample
2yr: $31,839 (20)
1yr: $32,372 (28)
Acceptance: 16.5%
#31
University of California-San Diego logo

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public

$72,491
4yr Earnings
361 grads
2yr: $35,964 (234)
1yr: $33,915 (370)
Acceptance: 24.5%
#32
North Carolina State University at Raleigh logo

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC · Public

$71,136
4yr Earnings
42 grads
2yr: $42,123 (22)
1yr: $36,488 (55)
Acceptance: 39.9%
#33
University of California-Davis logo

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$70,754
4yr Earnings
155 grads
2yr: $37,493 (173)
1yr: $35,570 (173)
Acceptance: 41.6%
#34
Colorado State University-Fort Collins logo

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public

$70,343
4yr Earnings
41 grads
2yr: $37,208 (21)
1yr: $29,864 (29)
Acceptance: 89.6%
#35
Florida State University logo

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL · Public

$69,875
4yr Earnings
41 grads
2yr: $29,685 (21)
1yr: $29,178 (47)
Acceptance: 25.4%
#36
University of Denver logo

University of Denver

Denver, CO · Private

$69,725
4yr Earnings
24 grads · small sample
2yr: $34,704 (12)
Acceptance: 71.2%
#37
Stockton University logo

Stockton University

Galloway, NJ · Public

$69,252
4yr Earnings
22 grads · small sample
2yr: $38,289 (13)
1yr: $23,754 (20)
Acceptance: 88.2%
#38
New York University logo

New York University

New York, NY · Private

$68,690
4yr Earnings
32 grads
1yr: $31,324 (42)
Acceptance: 9.4%
#39
University of Colorado Boulder logo

University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, CO · Public

$68,488
4yr Earnings
32 grads
2yr: $29,956 (42)
1yr: $34,609 (41)
Acceptance: 83.3%
#40
California State University-Fullerton logo

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public

$68,170
4yr Earnings
109 grads
2yr: $38,937 (79)
1yr: $27,994 (112)
Acceptance: 86.7%
#41
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor logo

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI · Public

$67,925
4yr Earnings
82 grads
2yr: $28,055 (75)
1yr: $18,827 (116)
Acceptance: 17.9%
#42
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities logo

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN · Public

$67,783
4yr Earnings
53 grads
2yr: $25,525 (69)
1yr: $30,316 (91)
Acceptance: 77.0%
#43
Rowan University logo

Rowan University

Glassboro, NJ · Public

$67,702
4yr Earnings
48 grads
2yr: $37,568 (32)
1yr: $34,551 (32)
Acceptance: 77.8%
#44
Loyola University Chicago logo

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private

$67,681
4yr Earnings
17 grads · small sample
2yr: $21,052 (24)
1yr: $29,376 (35)
Acceptance: 81.4%
#45
Purdue University-Main Campus logo

Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public

$67,639
4yr Earnings
20 grads · small sample
2yr: $38,289 (16)
1yr: $44,361 (18)
Acceptance: 50.3%
#46
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University logo

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public

$67,621
4yr Earnings
57 grads
2yr: $34,704 (74)
1yr: $31,684 (84)
Acceptance: 57.0%
#47
Drake University logo

Drake University

Des Moines, IA · Private

$67,547
4yr Earnings
17 grads · small sample
2yr: $28,598 (16)
1yr: $26,414 (18)
Acceptance: 64.1%
#48
California State University-Los Angeles logo

California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$67,441
4yr Earnings
39 grads
2yr: $21,964 (18)
1yr: $35,378 (31)
Acceptance: 91.9%
#49
Ohio State University-Main Campus logo

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public

$67,381
4yr Earnings
25 grads · small sample
2yr: $27,618 (37)
1yr: $24,438 (47)
Acceptance: 50.8%
#50
University of South Carolina-Columbia logo

University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC · Public

$67,202
4yr Earnings
18 grads · small sample
1yr: $25,473 (33)
Acceptance: 61.5%

Showing top 50 of 153 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology?
University of California-Santa Barbara ranks #1 for Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology with median graduate earnings of $90,694 within four years of graduating. There are 153 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology graduates earn?
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology graduates earn an average of $66,359 within four years of graduating. This is near the median across all majors. Earnings range from $43,080 to $90,694 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology program?
The average acceptance rate across Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology programs is 64.5%. The most selective program is at Princeton University with a 4.5% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology?
Private Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology programs average $66,519 in early earnings vs $66,332 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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