Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology graduates earn a median $65,466 four years after finishing — $17,106/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,906/yr net price ($67,624 over four years), that pays back in about 4 years. Federal data pools 633 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 12,054 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology ranks #89 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 56% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Santa Barbara | CA | $90,694 |
| 2 | Northeastern University | MA | $90,612 |
| 3 | University of California-Santa Cruz | CA | $88,305 |
| 4 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | NH | $87,075 |
| 5 | University of Massachusetts-Boston | MA | $85,296 |
| 6 | University of San Diego | CA | $83,380 |
| 7 | University of Kansas | KS | $81,568 |
| 8 | Montclair State University | NJ | $81,519 |
| 9 | University of Vermont | VT | $80,593 |
| 10 | University of Maryland-College Park | MD | $80,470 |
| 11 | Temple University | PA | $80,364 |
| 12 | California State University-Long Beach | CA | $79,820 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.