undergraduate
Ecology and evolutionary biology
Best schools with ecology and evolutionary biology
What is an ecology and evolutionary biology major?
Students of ecology and evolutionary biology study the relationships and interactions of small-scale biological systems, such as organisms, to each other, to complex and whole systems, and to the physical and other non-biological aspects of their environments. It includes instruction in biogeochemistry, landscape and/or marine/aquatic dynamics, decomposition, global and regional elemental budgets, biotic and abiotic regulation of nutrient cycles, ecophysiology, ecosystem resilience, disturbance, and succession, community and habitat dynamics, organismal interactions (co-evolution, competition, predation), paleoecology, and evolutionary ecology.
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 ecology and evolutionary biology majors make?
median average salary
$59,000/yr
The national average salary for ecology and evolutionary biology graduates in the United States is $59,000 per year. Those in the top 10 percent make over $130,000 a year, while the bottom 10 percent make under $24,000 a year. While salary ranges can vary by role, industry, and location, ecology and evolutionary biology graduates typically make between $37,000 and $90,000 per year.
How popular is ecology and evolutionary biology as a major?
Each year, around 2,130 students obtain a bachelor’s degree and fewer than 5 students obtain an associate degree in ecology and evolutionary biology. In 2021, 2,207 students received a bachelor's degree and 8 students received an associate degree. This is 6% fewer ecology and evolutionary biology majors than there were in 2020. Ecology and evolutionary biology is a relatively popular major compared to other biology majors.
Advice from ecology and evolutionary biology majors
Share your experienceIf you are interested in majoring in biology, look into lots of different bio classes. You may find yourself enjoying something you did not expect to and be compelled to study it further. Even if it does not end up being your major, all types of biology are interconnected and knowing things from different aspects of it can be helpful to your studies in the long run.
Buckle up for Organic Chemistry. Although I love organic chemistry in a weird way, many people don't and thats because of its difficulty.
Make sure that you’re going into this field because you have a passion for it, not because you’re wanting to make tons of money. Eventually, fame and fortune might be your outcome, but for now it’s just learning. You might as well enjoy the learning.
I would give the advice of being open minded to learning new things and have a good way of managing your time.
