Best Schools for Biotechnology

Biotechnology graduates earn a median of $76,773 within four years of graduating, ranking #151 out of 283 tracked majors — 23% above the median across all fields. There are 17 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 375 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Worcester State University graduates earn $90,565 while Colorado State University-Fort Collins graduates earn $55,981 — a $34,584 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: Biotechnology graduates see an average -2% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

Schools

$76,773

Avg. 2yr Earnings

#151

of 283 Majors

375

Graduates

Public vs Private: Biotechnology

Public (11 schools)

$76,612

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (6 schools)

$80,315

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $3,703 more in early earnings on average for Biotechnology graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Biotechnology by State

Also by state: Utah

Top Biotechnology Schools by Graduate Earnings

Worcester State University

Worcester, MA · Public

$90,565

4yr Earnings

27 grads · small sample

2yr: $55,547 (24)

Acceptance: 89.9%

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Brunswick, NJ · Public

Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY · Private

$87,596

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

1yr: $37,007 (18)

Acceptance: 41.7%

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

University of Houston

Houston, TX · Public

Endicott College

Beverly, MA · Private

$78,735

4yr Earnings

27 grads · small sample

1yr: $36,713 (20)

Acceptance: 72.3%

California State University-San Marcos

San Marcos, CA · Public

$76,622

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

2yr: $41,565 (21)

Acceptance: 95.7%

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, NY · Private

$74,613

4yr Earnings

28 grads · small sample

2yr: $32,925 (30)

1yr: $32,958 (37)

Acceptance: 71.4%

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA · Public

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA · Public

$65,893

4yr Earnings

18 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 76.3%

#12

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public

University of Nebraska at Omaha

Omaha, NE · Public

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public

$25,194

2yr Earnings

22 grads · small sample

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT · Private

Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Guayama

Guayama, PR · Private

Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo

Arecibo, PR · Private

$19,227

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 37.8%

Majors with Similar Earnings

Funeral Service and Mortuary Science $35,803 Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies $35,723 Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) $35,685 Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics $35,464 Agriculture, General $35,456 Astronomy and Astrophysics $35,354

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Biotechnology?

Worcester State University ranks #1 for Biotechnology with median graduate earnings of $90,565 within four years of graduating. There are 17 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do Biotechnology graduates earn?

Biotechnology graduates earn an average of $76,773 within four years of graduating. This is 23% above the median across all majors. Earnings range from $55,981 to $90,565 depending on the school.

How hard is it to get into a top Biotechnology program?

The average acceptance rate across Biotechnology programs is 71.5%. The most selective program is at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo with a 37.8% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for Biotechnology?

Private Biotechnology programs average $80,315 in early earnings vs $76,612 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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