Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences Degree

39 schools compared · Average earnings $37,398/yr

Students study the structure and function of cells, including cell division, organelle biology, tissue architecture, and the molecular mechanisms of disease. Graduates typically pursue careers in biomedical research, pharmaceutical development, clinical laboratory science, and as strong candidates for medical school and graduate programs. This major provides the deep biological knowledge essential for careers in healthcare and life sciences research.

What Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences Graduates Do

Your degree prepares you for a future at the microscopic frontier of medicine and research. Many graduates begin their careers as biological technicians, performing the essential hands-on work in a lab: preparing samples, running complex equipment, and meticulously documenting results for senior scientists. With an advanced degree, you could become a medical scientist, designing experiments to unlock the secrets of diseases like cancer, analyzing data, and pursuing breakthroughs in academic or private labs. Another major pathway involves teaching, where you might train the next generation of doctors and nurses as a postsecondary health specialties teacher, a field with exceptionally strong demand.

Career progression often involves moving from a technician role to a lead scientist and eventually to a natural sciences manager, overseeing entire research departments. Artificial intelligence is becoming a key collaborator in these fields. Expect AI to automate significant parts of your work, like analyzing thousands of cell images or sifting through genomic data, freeing you up for higher-level experimental design and interpretation. The jobs aren't disappearing, but your day-to-day tasks will evolve, placing a premium on adaptability. While some pure research roles face slow growth, the need for skilled educators in health sciences is expanding rapidly.

Schools Offering
39
Avg Grad Earnings
$37,398/yr
Avg DegreeOutlook Score
43/100
AI Automation Risk
High
52% task exposure

Common Career Paths

Where Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 70,200 combined openings per year.

Career Path Salary Range Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Natural sciences managers
$161,180
$114K$215K
8,500 +3.7% 50%
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
$105,620
$74K$176K
27,400 +17.3% 48%
Biochemists and biophysicists
$103,650
$79K$134K
2,900 +5.8% 45%
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
$100,590
$77K$134K
9,600 +8.7% 52%
Biological scientists, all other
$93,330
$68K$121K
4,800 +1.2% 49%
Microbiologists
$87,330
$64K$121K
1,700 +4.1% 40%
Epidemiologists
$83,980
$68K$106K
800 +16.2% 44%
Biological science teachers, postsecondary
$83,460
$64K$125K
5,400 +7.3% 47%
Biological technicians
$52,000
$45K–$66K
9,100 +3.5% 42%
Natural sciences managers
$161,180
$114K $215K
8,500 openings/yr +3.7% growth 50% AI risk
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
$105,620
$74K $176K
27,400 openings/yr +17.3% growth 48% AI risk
Biochemists and biophysicists
$103,650
$79K $134K
2,900 openings/yr +5.8% growth 45% AI risk
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
$100,590
$77K $134K
9,600 openings/yr +8.7% growth 52% AI risk
Biological scientists, all other
$93,330
$68K $121K
4,800 openings/yr +1.2% growth 49% AI risk
Microbiologists
$87,330
$64K $121K
1,700 openings/yr +4.1% growth 40% AI risk
Epidemiologists
$83,980
$68K $106K
800 openings/yr +16.2% growth 44% AI risk
Biological science teachers, postsecondary
$83,460
$64K $125K
5,400 openings/yr +7.3% growth 47% AI risk
Biological technicians
$52,000
$45K–$66K
9,100 openings/yr +3.5% growth 42% AI risk

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).

Best Schools for Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences

Top 20 of 39 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.

# School DW Score Earnings ROI
1 California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA
63
57–63
$47,315/yr 26.6x
2 California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, CA
62
56–62
$49,734/yr 22.4x
3 San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA
58
54–59
$40,794/yr 25.5x
4 University of Rhode Island
Kingston, RI
56
51–56
$46,814/yr 11.3x
5 University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA
56
51–57
$45,088/yr 12.6x
6 University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
52
47–52
$43,270/yr 10.8x
7 University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth, MN
50
45–51
$44,501/yr 10.2x
8 University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA
49
45–50
$42,075/yr 11.3x
9 Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA
49
45–50
$39,225/yr 14.8x
10 Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
48
43–49
$51,569/yr 2.7x
11 University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO
48
43–48
$43,192/yr 8.7x
12 University of California-Davis
Davis, CA
48
45–49
$37,952/yr 10.9x
13 University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
Waterbury, CT
48
45–48
$35,393/yr 11.2x
14 University of Connecticut-Avery Point
Groton, CT
48
45–48
$35,393/yr 11.2x
15 University of Connecticut-Stamford
Stamford, CT
48
45–48
$35,393/yr 11.2x
16 University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus
Hartford, CT
48
45–48
$35,393/yr 11.2x
17 Montana State University
Bozeman, MT
48
46–49
$32,538/yr 20.5x
18 University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT
46
43–47
$35,393/yr 9.5x
19 Parker University
Dallas, TX
45
40–46
$53,632/yr 6.7x
20 University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
45
42–46
$36,945/yr 10.8x

Highest Earning Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences Programs

Schools where Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

Best ROI for Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences.

School ROI Multiple Earnings DW Score
California State University-Northridge 26.6x $47,315/yr 63
San Francisco State University 25.5x $40,794/yr 58
California State University-Fullerton 23.7x $27,887/yr 45
California State University-San Marcos 22.4x $49,734/yr 62
Montana State University 20.5x $32,538/yr 48
Missouri State University-Springfield 16.2x $30,643/yr 43
Western Washington University 14.8x $39,225/yr 49
University of California-Santa Cruz 12.6x $45,088/yr 56
University of California-Riverside 11.9x $31,148/yr 43
University of Rhode Island 11.3x $46,814/yr 56
Want to compare two Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences programs side by side? Use the comparison tool →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences graduates earn?
Across 39 schools, Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences graduates earn an average of $37,398 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $20,721 to $65,551 depending on the school.
What is the AI automation risk for Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences?
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences is rated "High" for AI automation risk, with an average of 52% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means most career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.
Which school has the best Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences program?
Based on our DegreeOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), California State University-Northridge ranks #1 for Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences with a score of 63/100 and graduate earnings of $47,315/yr.
What's the outlook for a Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences degree?
On average, Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences graduates earn 10.6x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a strong return on investment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →