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Biochemistry Schools and Programs in The United States

88 schools in The United States teach Biochemistry.

  • Grove City College

    University Grove City, The United States In an official register

    Grove City College, created in 1876 is a leading college in America. The teaching method is centered majorly on Christian life and on improving students’ academic and moral life. The college is one of the most popular liberal arts colleges, and contains advanced…

  • Stetson University

    University DeLand, The United States In an official register

    Stetson University is an independent institution of higher learning, established in 1883, operating four colleges and schools across the I-4 corridor in Central Florida. The primary undergraduate campus is located in DeLand, Florida, USA. The Center for International…

Biochemistry Studies in The United States

Biochemistry studies the chemical processes of living things: how proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates are built, how enzymes work and how cells use energy and information. In the United States it sits between chemistry and biology and is often combined with molecular biology. It is taught at a wide range of institutions, from large research universities to small liberal arts colleges; this directory lists it at around 90 schools.

How the degree is organised

US undergraduate education is based on the liberal arts and sciences. According to EducationUSA, the US State Department's advising network, a bachelor's degree is usually completed in four years of full-time study, and students often declare their major at the end of the second year. A biochemistry major builds on general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, physics and mathematics, followed by advanced biochemistry, molecular biology and laboratory courses. Universities award either a Bachelor of Science (BS) or a Bachelor of Arts (BA), and the subject may sit in a chemistry department, a biology department or a separate biochemistry department.

  • Bachelor's degree (BS or BA) in Biochemistry, or in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, about four years
  • Master's degree, usually one to two years, offered by fewer schools
  • PhD, five to eight years according to EducationUSA, the main route to a research career

Undergraduate programmes can seek accreditation from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), which describes it as a national, independent, outcomes-based evaluation of BS and BA programmes in biochemistry and molecular biology. ASBMB-accredited programmes emphasise hands-on lab work (the society mentions graduates with 400 or more hours of laboratory experience) and offer an optional national exam. Accreditation is voluntary, so its absence does not mean a programme is weak.

Where to study biochemistry in the United States

Examples from this directory and the schools' own sites:

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison, whose Department of Biochemistry was founded in 1883 and had more than 690 undergraduate majors in spring 2026
  • The University of California Los Angeles, where the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry runs a PhD programme in Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology
  • The Rockefeller University in New York, which focuses on doctoral training through its Graduate Program in Bioscience (36 students received PhDs at its June 2026 convocation) and runs a summer undergraduate research fellowship
  • Other large research universities such as The Ohio State University, Purdue University, University of Michigan, University of Washington, University of Florida and University of Colorado at Boulder
  • Smaller colleges such as Hope College, Spelman College, DeSales University, Keuka College and Susquehanna University

Admission and visa

Students apply directly to each institution. EducationUSA advises starting the search 12 to 18 months ahead and states that US universities require an English language proficiency test before admission. Strong school results in chemistry, biology and mathematics help. Degree students study on an F student visa, issued for study at an accredited college or university; recognition of credits and degrees by other institutions and employers is linked to the institution's accreditation.

Costs and funding

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), average tuition and fees at 4-year institutions in 2022-23 were $9,800 at public institutions and $40,700 at private nonprofit institutions; the public figure is the in-state rate, and international students normally pay more. Laboratory courses may carry extra fees. For PhD students, EducationUSA notes that working as a teaching or research assistant in exchange for a tuition waiver or a stipend is very common.

Careers

Biochemistry graduates work in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, hospital and research laboratories, food and agricultural science, and government agencies. Many use the degree as preparation for medical, dental or pharmacy school. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that biochemists and biophysicists need a PhD to work in independent research and development, that many PhD holders start in temporary postdoctoral positions, and that bachelor's and master's graduates qualify for some entry-level positions. The median annual wage for biochemists and biophysicists was $127,410 in May 2025, and employment is projected to grow 12 percent from 2025 to 2035.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to study biochemistry in the United States?

A bachelor's degree usually takes four years. A PhD takes five to eight years and is needed for independent research.

What is the difference between a BS and a BA in biochemistry?

Both are bachelor's degrees. A BS usually includes more science and mathematics courses, while a BA leaves more room for other subjects; the exact requirements depend on the school.

What does ASBMB accreditation mean?

It is a voluntary, independent evaluation of undergraduate biochemistry and molecular biology programmes by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, with an emphasis on laboratory experience and an optional national exam.

Are PhD programmes in biochemistry funded?

Often. EducationUSA notes that teaching or research assistantships with a tuition waiver or stipend are very common at PhD level.