Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 114 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology pays
Career outlook for Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology graduates
The job market for the occupations Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical scientists, except epidemiologists | 165,300 | +8.7% | $100,590 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Natural sciences managers | 104,300 | +3.7% | $161,180 | Bachelor's degree |
| Biological technicians | 82,700 | +3.5% | $52,000 | Bachelor's degree |
| Biological science teachers, postsecondary | 66,000 | +7.3% | $83,460 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Biological scientists, all other | 63,700 | +1.2% | $93,330 | Bachelor's degree |
| Biochemists and biophysicists | 35,600 | +5.8% | $103,650 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology vs similar majors
How Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology stacks up against the closest fields in Biological & Biomedical Sciences on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology Biological & Biomedical Sciences · this major | Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | Pharmacology and Toxicology | Biotechnology | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 74 B | 86 A | 91 A | 87 A |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $70,821 | $122,658 | $92,541 | $89,459 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $40,272 | $82,737 | $51,581 | $63,581 |
| ROI vs cost | +224% | +824% | +493% | +437% |
| Typical debt | $21,137 | $33,122 | $22,369 | $29,545 |
| Colleges offering it | 114 | 11 | 5 | 23 |
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Master's | $134,874 | — | +3,481% | Strong return |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI | Master's | $107,389 | — | +1,698% | Strong return |
| 3 | California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, CA | Associate's | $76,273 | $18,240 | +1,483% | Strong return |
| 4 | California State University-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Associate's | $66,319 | $16,156 | +1,443% | Strong return |
| 5 | California State University-San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA | Associate's | $58,347 | — | +1,362% | Strong return |
| 6 | University of California-Davis Davis, CA | Associate's | $87,815 | $11,000 | +1,178% | Strong return |
| 7 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA | Associate's | $90,796 | $11,750 | +1,155% | Strong return |
| 8 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | Master's | $92,041 | — | +1,151% | Strong return |
| 9 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA | Associate's | $80,520 | $14,986 | +1,083% | Strong return |
| 10 | Towson University Towson, MD | Associate's | $90,110 | $19,950 | +972% | Strong return |
| 11 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Associate's | $76,967 | $14,753 | +949% | Strong return |
| 12 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | Associate's | $76,922 | $17,359 | +921% | Strong return |
| 13 | California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA | Associate's | $68,989 | $11,000 | +864% | Strong return |
| 14 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC | Associate's | $85,665 | $22,000 | +854% | Strong return |
| 15 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus Bothell, WA | Associate's | $72,792 | $14,014 | +834% | Strong return |
| 16 | Oakland University Rochester Hills, MI | Associate's | $61,384 | — | +798% | Strong return |
| 17 | Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN | Associate's | $76,574 | $17,713 | +786% | Strong return |
| 18 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN | Associate's | $72,545 | $15,716 | +749% | Strong return |
| 19 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA | Associate's | $72,792 | $14,014 | +735% | Strong return |
| 20 | University of Maryland-Baltimore County Baltimore, MD | Associate's | $77,423 | $19,500 | +710% | Strong return |
| 21 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IA | Associate's | $87,656 | $21,500 | +706% | Strong return |
| 22 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL | Associate's | $68,379 | $17,625 | +706% | Strong return |
| 23 | Grinnell College Grinnell, IA | Associate's | $78,143 | $16,549 | +702% | Strong return |
| 24 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA | Associate's | $71,357 | $24,250 | +697% | Strong return |
| 25 | University of Michigan-Flint Flint, MI | Associate's | $62,702 | $22,500 | +697% | Strong return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.