Biology is a popular major that provides students with a wide range of opportunities post-graduation. Students gain a broad understanding of life sciences along with the skills to perform research, which can lead to several advanced and specialized degrees.

A large number of biology majors end up doing post-graduate work in order to pursue a career in medicine.

Biology is the study of natural sciences, focusing specifically on structure and development of life and evolutionary processes. An important focus is the development of analytical and critical thinking skills, as well as learning to do research, collaborate with others, and present findings in a clear and understandable way.

This list of the top colleges for a major in general biologywas created by College Factual. Many of the best schools for a biology major have state of the art research facilities that attract faculty at the top of their field. Students have the opportunity to work closely with these professionals to assist with cutting edge research and prepare for successful careers of their own.

Salary data is provided byPayscale. College Factual uses a variety of public and private data sources to come up with their rankings.Read this article for a better understanding of itsmethodology.

MIT is a school well known for its STEM degrees and their major in general biology is no exception, as it is thebest ranked in the country! As a top research university with small class sizes, MIT offers a program that allows students to work closely with professors and their peers on variousresearch projects.

The general biology major typically prepares students for continuing education in research or medicine, with students taking classes in genetics, cell biology and chemistry along with elective courses in more specialized areas of the natural sciences. However, many students pursue work after graduation and achieve higher than average starting salaries of $62,000, and mid-career salaries of $83,000.

A degree in biology from Stanford University prepares students for numerous careers within the sciences. Students take classes in areas such as evolution, marine biology and ecology in order to further understand the living world. As the program advances, biology majors have the opportunity to choose elective courses that lead to an area they are most interested in.

Some students pursue medical, dental or veterinary schools, while others decide to focus on research in applied or life sciences. For those who choose not to pursue graduate work, average starting salaries are around $51,000.

A degree inbiologyfrom Stanford University prepares students for numerous careers within the sciences. Students take classes in areas such as evolution, marine biology and ecology in order to further understand the living world. As the program advances, biology majors have the opportunity to choose elective courses that lead to an area they are most interested in.

Some students pursue medical, dental or veterinary schools, while others decide to focus on research in applied or life sciences. For those who choose not to pursue graduate work,average starting salaries are around $51,000.

The Division of Biological Sciences at the University of California San Diego is a top choice for students who desire a high-quality education in the sciences. Itsgeneral biology majoris ideal for students who desire a broad and diverse education in a variety of subjects within biology. The specialized areas prepare graduates for careers within the biology field or for an advanced degree. Theaverage starting salary for a biology major from UC San Diego is $43,000, with an average mid-career salary of $87,000.

TheWake Forest University Department of Biologyhas a diverse team of faculty members and students that work together on research projects that investigate living organisms. The undergraduate biology major is interdisciplinary and relies on humanities and liberal arts courses to supplement the advanced science curriculum of evolution, physiology, genetics and molecular biology, and cellular biology.

WFU places a strong emphasis on research. Graduates of the program earn an average mid-career salary of $94,000, but that can increase with an advanced degree.

The undergraduate biology program at Emory University is designed to expose students to theories and practices currently used in the field. Students take diverse classes in genetics, neurobiology, evolutionary biology and ecology while working on critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Some biology students also pursue a minor inScience, Culture, and Society, which may lead to a position of leadership in public health and medicine. Emory University graduates have found top jobs following graduation in a variety of fields. Those with just an undergraduate degree reportaverage starting salaries of $40,000.

On top of being one of the best schools in the country for undergraduate biology majors, Notre Dame is also ranked tenth in the nation for overall best colleges. Graduates with a biology degree go on to make an average starting salary of $47,000.

Biology majors at Notre Dame have eight specialized tracks to choose from, including biomedical sciences, computational biology, evolution and genomics, and medical neurobiology. In each area, there are numerous opportunities for students, who can engage in research projects as early as their freshmen year.

Established in 1766, Rutgers is the eighth-oldest institutions of higher learning in the United States. Due to its high academic standards and reasonable price tag, Rutgers is a great value for your money. The university also boasts a high freshman retention rate and a low student loan default rate. The average starting salary for a degree holder in biology is $44,000.

The Division of Life Sciences offers courses in a number of specialized areas, such as molecular biology and genetics. In addition to the programs internal research opportunities, students may be interested in one of the joint programs available with medical, dental and physician assistant schools. These programs provide an accelerated path for earning a BA/MD, BA/DMD or BA/MS.

The University of Rochester is a top-tier research institution with a BA program in biology and a BS program in biological sciences. For the latter, students can choose to focus in one of seven specialties, such as biochemistry, molecular genetics or neuroscience. Upon graduating, students go on to careers with an average starting salary of $43,000.

The private research university is located on a beautiful campus adjacent to Bausch & Lomb Riverside Park and the historic Mount Hope Cemetery. UR is quite selective and about 60% of its students are from outside New York.

Established in 1856, University of Maryland is a public research university located about four miles from Washington, D.C. Biology is the most popular major at the school, and those who obtain a bachelors degree in the field earn an average starting salary of $41,000.

The Department of Biology at Maryland lets students choose between two specializations Physiology and Neurobiology (PHNB) and Ecology and Evolution (ECEV). Also, the department oversees the Biodiversity and Conservation Biology specialization that is part of the Environmental Science and Policy program.

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The top 10 U.S. colleges for a major in biology - USA TODAY College