Biotechnology Schools and Programs in The United States

Biotechnology Studies in The United States

Biotechnology uses living cells, microorganisms and biological molecules to make products and solve problems: medicines and vaccines, diagnostic tests, enzymes for industry, improved crops and new materials. Students learn molecular and cell biology, biochemistry and genetics, and above all the laboratory and production techniques the industry relies on, from cell culture and protein purification to fermentation and scale-up. In the United States biotechnology is taught at every level, from short certificates at community colleges to research doctorates, which is why this page lists both two-year colleges and research universities.

Qualifications and levels

• Certificates at community colleges, often focused on one area such as biomanufacturing or cell and gene therapy
• Associate of Applied Science (AAS): about two years, preparing for laboratory technician jobs or transfer to a bachelor's degree
• Bachelor's degrees (four years) in biotechnology, or in biology or bioengineering with a biotechnology focus
• Master's degrees, often skills-based and designed for industry careers
• PhD programmes for independent research in universities and companies

EducationUSA notes that community colleges often lead the United States in teaching cutting-edge fields such as biotechnology and biomedical technology. Montgomery College in Maryland is an example: its Biotechnology AAS prepares students either to transfer to a bachelor's degree or to enter the workforce, with first-year courses in biotechnology, biology, chemistry and mathematics followed by more advanced applied work in the second year. Graduates should be able to carry out basic laboratory tasks such as pipetting, buffer preparation, dilutions and gel electrophoresis, and students can apply for a practicum at a partner biotechnology company. The college also offers certificates in biotechnology, biomanufacturing and cell and gene therapy, and states that most of its students find work at local biotechnology companies and research organisations such as the National Institutes of Health.

At university level, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Massachusetts offers a bachelor's degree in biology and biotechnology, a combined BS/MS and a Master of Science in Biotechnology. The master's is a skills-based, non-thesis programme of at least 30 credit hours, with courses such as fermentation biology, animal cell culture and scale-up bioprocessing.

Admission and visa

Community colleges usually have more flexible admission and lower costs, and their credits can count towards a bachelor's degree. EducationUSA describes a "2+2" route: two years at a community college followed by two years at a university. Master's programmes ask for a first degree in a life science or engineering field; WPI, for example, also accepts a bachelor's in another field with demonstrated knowledge of biology.

Degree students at accredited colleges and universities use the F student visa, after being accepted by a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which issues the Form I-20. According to EducationUSA, US institutions cannot issue I-20 forms for non-degree study, so short certificates may not be open to international students on a student visa; an associate or bachelor's degree is the safer route.

Where to study biotechnology in the United States

Programmes cluster around research universities and biotech regions. Universities on this page include the University of California San Diego and the University of California, Davis, the University of Southern California, Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Drexel University in Philadelphia, Brown University in Providence, Purdue University, The Ohio State University, Colorado State University, UMBC in Baltimore, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and at Huntsville, Florida Atlantic University, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Two-year options include Montgomery College, Alamance Community College in North Carolina, Bergen Community College in New Jersey, American River College in Sacramento, Kirkwood Community College in Iowa, Hudson Valley Community College in New York and Delaware Technical & Community College.

Careers

Graduates work in research and development companies, pharmaceutical manufacturing, universities, government laboratories and healthcare. The level of the job depends on the degree, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):

• Biological technicians typically need a bachelor's degree, although some positions are open to candidates with less education and laboratory experience. Median annual wage: $57,510 in May 2025; employment is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 9,400 openings a year.
• Biochemists and biophysicists need a PhD for independent research, although bachelor's and master's graduates qualify for some entry-level positions. Median annual wage: $127,410 in May 2025; projected growth of 12 percent from 2025 to 2035.

Frequently asked questions

Can I start a biotechnology career with a two-year degree?

Yes, at technician level. Community college programmes such as Montgomery College's AAS train students in core laboratory skills, though the BLS notes that many technician jobs ask for a bachelor's degree.

How long does a master's in biotechnology take?

EducationUSA describes US master's degrees as two-year programmes. Requirements vary; WPI's MS in Biotechnology, for example, requires at least 30 credit hours.

Do I need a PhD to work in biotechnology?

Only for independent research posts. According to the BLS, biochemists and biophysicists need a PhD to lead research, while bachelor's and master's graduates qualify for some entry-level positions.

Which visa do international biotechnology students need?

Degree programmes at accredited colleges and universities use the F student visa, issued after admission to an SEVP-certified school. Non-degree certificates cannot be used for an I-20.