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Laboratory teaching assistant education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a laboratory teaching assistant. Laboratory teaching assistants usually study biology, chemistry, or biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology. 78% of laboratory teaching assistants hold a bachelor's degree, and 12% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 5,866 real laboratory teaching assistant resumes to see exactly what laboratory teaching assistant education sections show.

The most common colleges for laboratory teaching assistants are the Purdue University and the Purdue University.

There are also many online laboratory teaching assistant courses to help get the education required to be a laboratory teaching assistant.

There are certain laboratory teaching assistant certifications that you should consider. These laboratory teaching assistant certifications include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Clinical Research Assistant.

What education do you need to become a laboratory teaching assistant?

What degree do you need to be a laboratory teaching assistant?

The most common degree for laboratory teaching assistants is bachelor's degree, with 78% of laboratory teaching assistants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 12% and master's degree degree at 4%.
  • Bachelor's, 78%
  • Master's, 12%
  • Associate, 4%
  • Doctorate, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become a laboratory teaching assistant?

You should major in biology to become a laboratory teaching assistant. 25% of laboratory teaching assistants major in biology. Other common majors for a laboratory teaching assistant include chemistry and biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology.

Most common colleges for laboratory teaching assistants

Laboratory teaching assistants often get their degrees at Purdue University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and University of Florida. Here are the most common colleges for laboratory teaching assistants in the US based on their resumes.
Laboratory teaching assistant common collegePercentages
Purdue University7.01%
University of North Carolina at Greensboro6.37%
University of Florida6.16%
Texas A&M University6.16%
Georgia Southern University5.94%

Best majors for laboratory teaching assistants

Best colleges for laboratory teaching assistants

The best colleges for laboratory teaching assistants are Stanford University, Harvard University, and Northwestern University.

A laboratory teaching assistant with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for laboratory teaching assistants. 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 laboratory teaching assistants.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

2. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

5. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

6. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,184

Enrollment

30,845

7. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

8. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$54,104

Enrollment

7,089

9. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

10. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

20 best online courses for laboratory teaching assistants

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1. Chemical Biology

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Top 10 most affordable universities for laboratory teaching assistants

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

If the best universities for laboratory teaching assistants 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 laboratory teaching assistants.

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. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

5. California State University - Fresno

Fresno, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,587

Cost of attendance

16,915

6. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

7. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

8. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

9. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

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 laboratory teaching assistants

The hardest universities for laboratory teaching assistants to get into are Stanford University, Harvard University, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for laboratory teaching assistants 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 laboratory teaching assistants 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

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

5. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

6. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

7. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

8. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

9. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,456

10. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for laboratory teaching assistants

The easiest schools for laboratory teaching assistants to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, wayland baptist university, and barry university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a laboratory teaching assistant 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 laboratory teaching assistants.

1. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

2. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

3. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

5. Our Lady of the Lake University

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,002

6. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

7. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

8. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

9. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

10. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,035

Average laboratory teaching assistant salary by education level

Laboratory teaching assistants with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $53,760 annually. With a Master's degree, laboratory teaching assistants earn a median annual income of $51,368 compared to $43,447 for laboratory teaching assistants with an Bachelor's degree.
Laboratory teaching assistant education levelLaboratory teaching assistant salary
Master's Degree$51,368
High School Diploma or Less$39,960
Bachelor's Degree$43,447
Doctorate Degree$53,760
Some College/ Associate Degree$41,022

Laboratory teaching assistant education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
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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