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Science interpreter education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a science interpreter. Science interpreters usually study biology, computer science, or cell biology and anatomical science. 67% of science interpreters hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 40 real science interpreter resumes to see exactly what science interpreter education sections show.
The most common colleges for science interpreters are the University of Washington and the University of Washington.
There are also many online science interpreter courses to help get the education required to be a science interpreter.
What education do you need to become a science interpreter?
What degree do you need to be a science interpreter?
- Bachelor's, 67%
- Associate, 15%
- Master's, 11%
- High School Diploma, 7%
What should I major in to become a science interpreter?
- Biology, 20%
- Computer Science, 12%
- Area Studies, 8%
- Other Majors, 52%
Most common colleges for science interpreters
| Science interpreter common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Washington | 10.53% |
| University of Colorado at Boulder | 5.26% |
| Eastern Oregon University | 5.26% |
| Central Michigan University | 5.26% |
| Temple University | 5.26% |
Best majors for science interpreters
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biology | 20.0% |
| 2 | Computer Science | 12.0% |
| 3 | Cell Biology And Anatomical Science | 8.0% |
| 4 | Area Studies | 8.0% |
| 5 | East Asian Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics | 4.0% |
Best colleges for science interpreters
The best colleges for science interpreters are Harvard University, Northwestern University, and Stanford University.
A science interpreter with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for science interpreters. 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 science interpreters.
1. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
2. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,184
Enrollment
30,845
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
4. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
5. University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$13,226
Enrollment
31,568
6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
7. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
8. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
9. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
20 best online courses for science interpreters
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Top 10 most affordable universities for science interpreters
The most affordable schools for science interpreters are University of Florida, hunter college of the city university of new york, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for science interpreters 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 science interpreters.
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 - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
5. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
6. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
7. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,338
Cost of attendance
14,281
8. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
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 - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for science interpreters
The hardest universities for science interpreters to get into are Harvard University, Northwestern University, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for science interpreters 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 science interpreters 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. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
4. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
5. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
6. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
7. University of Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,520
8. Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,488
9. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
10. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for science interpreters
The easiest schools for science interpreters 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 science interpreter 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 science interpreters.
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. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
5. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
6. The University of Texas Permian Basin
Odessa, TX • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,046
7. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
8. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
9. William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
994
10. Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,002
Average science interpreter salary by education level
| Science interpreter education level | Science interpreter salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $50,776 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $41,831 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $46,620 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $46,366 |
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025