undergraduate
General biology
Best schools with general biology
What is a general biology major?
Biology students focus on the biological sciences and the non-clinical biomedical sciences, and are prepared for research and professional careers as biologists and biomedical scientists.
of students said a highlight of this major was the fascinating subject.
of students found this major to be difficult.
of students said they were motivated to select this major because it fit their passion & interest.
of students and alumni plan on being or are currently employed in an occupation related to this major.
of students said complex concepts were a challenging aspect of the major.
How much do general biology majors make?
median average salary
$80,000/yr
The national average salary for general biology graduates in the United States is $80,000 per year. Those in the top 10 percent make over $250,000 a year, while the bottom 10 percent make under $27,000 a year. While salary ranges can vary by role, industry, and location, general biology graduates typically make between $48,000 and $135,000 per year.
The most common starting salary of surveyed students after graduation is $30,000 - $40,000.
How popular is general biology as a major?
Each year, around 82,100 students obtain a bachelor’s degree and around 6,360 students obtain an associate degree in general biology. In 2021, 87,273 students received a bachelor's degree and 8,569 students received an associate degree. This is 5% more general biology majors than there were in 2020. General biology is one of the most popular majors within biology.
Advice from general biology majors
Share your experienceBiology is a great field, but do not go into the area if you are being forced to be premed
To remember that while the subject can be challenging at times, that everything connects to each other and the concepts will click eventually. Don't give up! Try practical/hand-on opportunities to learn material in a variety of ways. Attend campus lectures to learn about specific case studies/research, it helps apply lecture material to the "real world".
It’s a great start into either a medical, research, or health science job. Biology as a major does a great job setting your up for your graduate degree or right off the bat after your bachelors graduation.
The best advice I would give is to attend every class/lecture and student study session if possible. If you're a full time student be sure to balance out your time wisely. They say for every hour of lecture you should study for 3 hours.
Take your time to understand, review a lot, study hard, and pay attention closely. These concepts are very challenging if not keeping up. Being a scientist takes a lot in, but is very rewarding. Stay up to date with tasks and assignments grades are very important. Ask for help when needed it will not be given to you directly if not asked.
