Cell Biology Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Study of cell structure and function as the fundamental unit of life.
Starting Salary
$72K
median
Mid-Career
$108K
salary
ROI Payback
3 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
2%
rate
Cell Biology Overview
Study of cell structure and function as the fundamental unit of life.
Category
STEM
Degree Level
Bachelor's/Master's
Graduation Rate
85%
Enrollment Trend
growing
Online Available
Yes
Underemployment
5%
Lifetime Premium
$1200K
Female Graduates
55%
Cell Biology Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$18,900
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$18,900
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$1,181,100
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,200,000) minus net degree cost ($18,900)
Cell Biology Salary Progression
Common Cell Biology Careers
Research Scientist
Lab Manager
Biotech Researcher
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Cell Biology
#1
MIT
#2
Stanford
#3
Harvard
#4
UCSF
#5
Yale
Cell Biology Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
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