Biology
Quick Facts: Biology Training
Where it's offered
Biology programs are offered at 18 schools across 8 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.
Earnings expectations
Graduates earn approximately $30,068/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.
Apprenticeship pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 5 registered apprenticeship pathways related to Biology — earn-while-you-learn alternatives to traditional schooling. See apprenticeship.gov for the federal registry.
Program quality benchmark
Across the 18 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 40/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.
What Biology Graduates Do
Your career could begin in a lab as a biological technician, where your days involve preparing cell cultures, operating equipment like centrifuges and microscopes, and meticulously logging experimental data. Alternatively, you might start as a secondary school teacher, crafting lesson plans, managing a classroom, and guiding students through dissections and experiments.
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As you gain experience (or an advanced degree), you can progress from running tests to designing them. Many technicians advance to become medical scientists, where the work shifts to analyzing complex data, leading research projects to develop new medicines, and publishing findings. This career ladder sees starting salaries for technicians often begin near $50,000, while experienced medical scientists and natural science managers can earn well over six figures. Demand is growing fastest for these specialized scientist and postsecondary teaching roles.
While AI tools may assist with data analysis or modeling complex systems, the core hands-on work of running a lab, conducting a novel experiment, or teaching a class remains fundamentally human-driven.
If Biology doesn't fit your goals, programs like Zoology, Physiology, and Natural Sciences draw from adjacent skill sets.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 5 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Biology. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bio-Manufacturing Technician (Downstream)
RAPIDS 1103CB |
Competency | Competency | $45K – $52,000 – $66K | 3.5% |
|
Bio-Manufacturing Technician (Upstream)
RAPIDS 1102CB |
Competency | Competency | $45K – $52,000 – $66K | 3.5% |
|
Crime Scene Technician
RAPIDS 1113CB |
Competency | Competency | $53K – $67,440 – $89K | 12.8% |
|
Dairy Technologist
RAPIDS 630 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $45K – $52,000 – $66K | 3.5% |
|
Microbiology Quality Control Tech
RAPIDS 1135HY |
2000-3000 hrs | Hybrid | $45K – $52,000 – $66K | 3.5% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Find Biology Programs in Your State
Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. Biology is offered at 18 schools across 8 states. Pick your state to see a local comparison (states with fewer programs link to the state hub).
Top Biology Programs Nationally
For context, here are the highest-scoring Biology programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.
18 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin Community College District Austin, TX |
64 56–66 |
| 2 | Reedley College Reedley, CA |
64 57–66 |
| 3 | Union Adventist University Lincoln, NE |
57 52–58 |
| 4 | St Philip's College San Antonio, TX |
57 53–58 |
| 5 | Fresno City College Fresno, CA |
57 49–59 |
| 6 | Northwest Vista College San Antonio, TX |
54 47–56 |
| 7 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI |
53 50–55 |
| 8 | San Antonio College San Antonio, TX |
53 44–55 |
| 9 | Mott Community College Flint, MI |
52 43–54 |
| 10 | San Diego Miramar College San Diego, CA |
52 44–54 |
| 11 | Houston Community College Houston, TX |
51 47–52 |
| 12 | South Texas College McAllen, TX |
47 43–49 |
| 13 | Davidson College Davidson, NC |
46 41–48 |
| 14 | Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland Campus Vineland, NJ |
46 38–48 |
| 15 | Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus Sewell, NJ |
46 38–48 |
| 16 | CUNY Kingsborough Community College Brooklyn, NY |
45 39–47 |
| 17 | El Paso Community College El Paso, TX |
42 34–45 |
| 18 | Texas State Technical College Waco, TX |
39 32–41 |
Highest Earning Biology Programs
Schools where Biology graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Union Adventist University | $74,593/yr | 57 |
| Davidson College | $39,602/yr | 46 |
| St Philip's College | $35,699/yr | 57 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | $35,304/yr | 53 |
| Austin Community College District | $34,560/yr | 64 |
| Reedley College | $30,520/yr | 64 |
| Northwest Vista College | $28,923/yr | 54 |
| South Texas College | $28,791/yr | 47 |
| Mott Community College | $28,480/yr | 52 |
| San Antonio College | $26,835/yr | 53 |
Best ROI for Biology
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Biology.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Miramar College | 230.4x | $15,731/yr | 52 |
| Reedley College | 185.3x | $30,520/yr | 64 |
| Fresno City College | 177.8x | $22,741/yr | 57 |
| Austin Community College District | 109.3x | $34,560/yr | 64 |
| San Antonio College | 74.3x | $26,835/yr | 53 |
| Northwest Vista College | 59.7x | $28,923/yr | 54 |
| Houston Community College | 59.3x | $24,621/yr | 51 |
| El Paso Community College | 54.0x | $17,314/yr | 42 |
| St Philip's College | 51.3x | $35,699/yr | 57 |
| Mott Community College | 49.5x | $28,480/yr | 52 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Biology degree programs stack up on earnings and ROI.