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Chemistry/biology teacher education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a chemistry/biology teacher. Chemistry/biology teachers usually study biology, chemistry, or education. 71% of chemistry/biology teachers hold a bachelor's degree, and 21% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 456 real chemistry/biology teacher resumes to see exactly what chemistry/biology teacher education sections show.
The most common colleges for chemistry/biology teachers are the Alcorn State University and the Alcorn State University.
There are also many online chemistry/biology teacher courses to help get the education required to be a chemistry/biology teacher.
What education do you need to become a chemistry/biology teacher?
What degree do you need to be a chemistry/biology teacher?
- Bachelor's, 71%
- Master's, 21%
- Doctorate, 3%
- Associate, 2%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a chemistry/biology teacher?
Most common colleges for chemistry/biology teachers
| Chemistry/biology teacher common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Alcorn State University | 8.06% |
| Hampton University | 6.45% |
| Texas Southern University | 4.84% |
| SUNY Stony Brook | 4.84% |
| University of the Sciences | 4.84% |
Best majors for chemistry/biology teachers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biology | 37.9% |
| 2 | Chemistry | 15.3% |
| 3 | Education | 7.9% |
| 4 | Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology | 5.9% |
| 5 | General Education, Specific Areas | 5.1% |
Best colleges for chemistry/biology teachers
The best colleges for chemistry/biology teachers are Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, and Northwestern University.
A chemistry/biology teacher with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for chemistry/biology teachers. 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 chemistry/biology teachers.
1. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
4. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
6. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,184
Enrollment
30,845
7. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
9. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
10. University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$13,226
Enrollment
31,568
20 best online courses for chemistry/biology teachers
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In this course, we will explore the nature of science and biology. We will discuss what the “biology everywhere” philosophy means and the history of the “biology everywhere” project. We will also discuss what science (and biology) are as a discipline of inquiry and how chemistry is foundational to understanding biology...
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6. Biology Everywhere
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16. Organic Chemistry: Spectroscopy Master Class
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17. Systems Biology and Biotechnology
Design systems-level experiments using appropriate cutting edge techniques, collect big data, and analyze and interpret small and big data sets quantitatively.\n\nThe Systems Biology Specialization covers the concepts and methodologies used in systems-level analysis of biomedical systems. Successful participants will learn how to use experimental, computational and mathematical methods in systems biology and how to design practical systems-level frameworks to address questions in a variety of...
18. Cancer Biology 101
Risk factors, how cancer grows, and how to treat it...
19. Mind Maps/ Mind Mapping for Teachers, Trainers, & Presenters
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20. Outcome Based Education (OBE) & Academic Quality Assurance
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Top 10 most affordable universities for chemistry/biology teachers
The most affordable schools for chemistry/biology teachers are Hunter College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for chemistry/biology teachers 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 chemistry/biology teachers.
1. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
2. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
3. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
4. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,338
Cost of attendance
14,281
5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
6. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
7. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
8. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
9. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,140
Cost of attendance
14,430
10. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for chemistry/biology teachers
The hardest universities for chemistry/biology teachers to get into are Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, and Northwestern University.
Some great schools for chemistry/biology teachers 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 chemistry/biology teachers 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. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
4. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
5. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
6. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
7. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
8. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
9. University of Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,520
10. University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN • Private
Admissions rate
18%
SAT average
1,502
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for chemistry/biology teachers
The easiest schools for chemistry/biology teachers to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, barry university, and wayland baptist university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a chemistry/biology teacher 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 chemistry/biology teachers.
1. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
2. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
3. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
4. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
5. Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,002
6. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
7. College of New Rochelle, The
New Rochelle, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
982
8. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
9. Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana, PA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,019
10. College of Mount Saint Vincent
Bronx, NY • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,021
Average chemistry/biology teacher salary by education level
| Chemistry/biology teacher education level | Chemistry/biology teacher salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $66,946 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $54,619 |
| Doctorate Degree | $67,806 |
Chemistry/biology teacher education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025