Biochemist education requirements

Q: What degree do you need to be a biochemist?

You need a bachelor's degree in biochemistry to be a biochemist. Other degrees in relevant fields can also result in a career as a biochemist. Although biochemistry is the degree most earned by those who enter the field, several other areas of study are also popular choices and can lead to work in the field of biochemistry. Nearly 30% of biochemists earn their bachelor's degree in biology with another 15% choosing a degree in chemistry. Both relevant fields can help prepare you for work in biochemistry. A bachelor's degree is held by nearly 75% of those working as biochemists. However, advanced degrees in the field are necessary for certain jobs and approximately 22% of biochemists have either a master's or Ph.D. in a relevant field of study. Earning an advanced degree in this field is reflected in salary compensation with bachelor's degree holders earning an average of $62,000 and master's $76,000.

Q: What job can you get with a biochemistry degree?

Jobs in biochemistry depend largely on the level of degree that you possess. Jobs in this field range from data scientists to academic researchers. Earning a bachelor's degree in biochemistry opens the door to many career possibilities. Nearly 75% of degree holders in biochemistry have a bachelor's degree.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a biochemist. Biochemists usually study biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, biology, or chemistry. 74% of biochemists hold a bachelor's degree, and 16% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 590 real biochemist resumes to see exactly what biochemist education sections show.

The most common colleges for biochemists are the University of California - Davis and the University of California - Davis.

There are also many online biochemist courses to help get the education required to be a biochemist.

What education do you need to become a biochemist?

What degree do you need to be a biochemist?

The most common degree for biochemists is bachelor's degree, with 74% of biochemists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 16% and master's degree degree at 6%.

Bachelor's, 74%

Master's, 16%

Doctorate, 6%

Associate, 3%

Other Degrees, 1%

What should I major in to become a biochemist?

You should major in biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology to become a biochemist. 30% of biochemists major in biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology. Other common majors for a biochemist include biology and chemistry.

Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology, 30%

Biology, 28%

Chemistry, 14%

Microbiology, 5%

Other Majors, 23%

Most common colleges for biochemists

Biochemists often get their degrees at University of California - Davis, University of California, Santa Barbara, and University of Delaware. Here are the most common colleges for biochemists in the US based on their resumes.

Biochemist common college	Percentages
University of California - Davis	13.68%
University of California, Santa Barbara	9.40%
University of Delaware	9.40%
Pennsylvania State University	6.84%
Temple University	5.98%

Show more common biochemist colleges

Best majors for biochemists

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology	30.4%
2	Biology	28.0%
3	Chemistry	14.5%
4	Microbiology	4.8%
5	Biotechnology	3.5%

Show more common biochemist majors

Best colleges for biochemists

The best colleges for biochemists are Stanford University, Harvard University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

A biochemist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for biochemists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become biochemists.

1. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

3. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

4. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Enrollment

34,564

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

6. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

7. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

8. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,184

Enrollment

30,845

9. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$54,104

Enrollment

7,089

10. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,625

Enrollment

17,407

20 best online courses for biochemists

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Top 10 most affordable universities for biochemists

The most affordable schools for biochemists are University of Florida, hunter college of the city university of new york, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for biochemists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for biochemists.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

3. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

4. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

5. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Cost of attendance

25,527

7. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

8. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

9. California State University - Northridge

Northridge, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,893

Cost of attendance

18,870

10. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Cost of attendance

25,275

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for biochemists

The hardest universities for biochemists to get into are Stanford University, Harvard University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

Some great schools for biochemists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for biochemists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,497

2. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,520

3. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,512

4. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

5. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

6. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

7. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,516

8. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,517

9. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,492

10. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,456

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for biochemists

The easiest schools for biochemists to get into are D'Youville College, barry university, and notre dame de namur university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a biochemist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for biochemists.

1. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

2. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

3. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

4. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

5. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

6. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

7. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

8. Our Lady of the Lake University

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,002

9. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

10. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

Average biochemist salary by education level

Biochemists with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $88,080 annually. With a Master's degree, biochemists earn a median annual income of $75,882 compared to $69,102 for biochemists with an Bachelor's degree.

Biochemist education level	Biochemist salary
Master's Degree	$75,882
Bachelor's Degree	$69,102
Doctorate Degree	$88,080

Biochemist education FAQs

What degree do you need to be a biochemist?

What job can you get with a biochemistry degree?

What is the best college for Biochemists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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