Biotechnology Degree Programs

MTSBiotechnology

“Cultivate a strong foundation in both biology and engineering, but also appreciate the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Being able to communicate effectively and work with experts from various fields will be key to your success in advancing biotechnological innovations.”

– Keaun Amani, Founder & CEO of Neurosnap Inc.

Ever since the introduction of genetic engineering in the 1970s, biologists have increasingly implemented chemistry, math, and physics to acquire an in-depth knowledge of how living cells create substances at the molecular level. Biotechnology emerged from that research.

Biotechnology uses living systems to create various products that improve the planet’s lives and health. Biotechnologists efficiently manufacture medicine, food, and even fuel, among other products, by manipulating living cells and components of cells.

Thanks to biotechnology, traditional industries such as fermentation and food processing have undergone significant changes in the last few decades. For example, technologies now exist that change how people create and work with antibiotics, hormones, energy and food sources, and waste material processing.

People do not have to look far to see the effects of biotechnology in their everyday lives. It covers numerous disciplines, including biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology. One of the primary use cases for biotechnology is the development of new medications. Other uses include biofuels, modified plants, and the production of chemicals, food, paper, and textiles.

The biotechnology field has many opportunities for specialization, including in the following areas:

Agricultural health: The study of dietary, environmental, genetic, and occupational factors on the health of farmers and others exposed to agricultural chemicals.
Animal health: The research, development, testing, and distribution of preventive products, diagnostic tools, and therapeutic drugs for livestock and pets.
Bioinformatics: The storing, analysis, and management of biological data, specifically regarding drug design and sequence data management.
Environmental science: Using living and organic systems to clean environmental waste, improve industrial processes, and prevent pollution by manufacturing biofuels and bioplastics.
Food science: The study of food’s biological, chemical, and physical aspects to ensure that it is healthy for consumption.
Pharmaceutical sciences: The research, development, testing, and release of new drugs and therapies and the monitoring of existing drugs to ensure effectiveness and safety.
Regulatory affairs: The in-depth understanding of biotechnology product lifecycles and collaboration with businesses and regulators to ensure consumer safety and product quality.

Students and young professionals wishing to join the biotechnology industry have many academic options. Many biotechnology programs in the United States offer the above specialties for aspiring biotechnologists.

Depending on each student’s career path, aspirations, professional experience, academic background, and time commitment, students can choose to enroll in a bachelor’s or master’s program in biotechnology that can be completed online, on-campus, or as a hybrid of both—usually referred to as “blended.” More seasoned professionals can opt for a graduate certificate.

Read on to explore various programs in biotechnology and hear directly from a biotech expert.

Meet the Expert: Keaun Amani, Founder & CEO

Keaun Amani

As the founder and CEO of Neurosnap Inc., a biotech startup focused on merging biology with machine learning, Keaun Amani leads a skilled team of engineers, scientists, and researchers who share a passion for innovation in this emerging field. His career began in software engineering, where he spent nearly a decade specializing in data science, algorithm development, and software design.

Amani later transitioned to synthetic biology, applying computational expertise to tackle biological challenges. Notable achievements include developing algorithms for predicting enzyme stability and genetically engineering plants to glow in the dark. His journey reflects a commitment to challenging the status quo and pushing the boundaries of innovation, a spirit that continues to drive the work at Neurosnap Inc.

MedicalTechnologySchools.com: What is something most people don’t know about being a biotechnologist?

Amani: One thing most people don’t realize about being a biotechnologist is how much trial and error is involved in the work. It’s not just about following procedures; it’s about navigating the unknown and it often feels like a high-stakes game of educated guesses. Each experiment can be incredibly costly, and the outcome is never guaranteed, making the process akin to gambling in some respects. You’re constantly refining your approach as new data emerges, iterating on hypotheses, and sometimes, despite best efforts, things don’t work out as expected.

Moreover, being a biotechnologist demands a deep integration of biology with engineering principles. While the popular image might be of someone working with cells and organisms, the reality often involves designing and optimizing complex systems like bioreactors or genetic modification platforms. This requires not only an understanding of biological systems but also expertise in chemistry, data science, and, in my case, computational biology.

The field is inherently interdisciplinary, with biotechnologists regularly collaborating with professionals in data science, regulatory affairs, and even economics. The path from a groundbreaking discovery to a market-ready product is fraught with regulatory hurdles, ethical considerations, and market dynamics, which can be as challenging, if not more so, than the scientific research itself.

MedicalTechnologySchools.com: What is one piece of advice you would give to an aspiring biotechnologist?

Amani: One piece of advice I would give to an aspiring biotechnologist is to prioritize networking as early as possible. Biotechnology is a highly collaborative field, and building a strong professional network can open doors to opportunities, knowledge, and mentorship that can significantly accelerate your career. Most major cities and academic institutions host clubs, journal clubs, seminars, and industry events that are perfect for meeting established professionals in both industry and academia. Engage with these communities, attend events, and don’t be afraid to initiate conversations.

Talking to a wide range of people in the field will expose you to diverse expertise and perspectives that you can learn from, helping you to navigate the complexities of biotechnology better. Beyond just technical knowledge, networking will help you understand the broader context of your work, including industry trends, regulatory landscapes, and emerging technologies. These insights are invaluable as you shape your career and make strategic decisions about your professional development.

In addition to networking, embrace the uncertainty of the field. Biotechnology is constantly evolving, and resilience, adaptability, and a problem-solving mindset will be crucial as you face the inevitable challenges and setbacks. Cultivate a strong foundation in both biology and engineering, but also appreciate the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Being able to communicate effectively and work with experts from various fields will be key to your success in advancing biotechnological innovations.

List of Biotechnology Schools (Campus-Based)

Filter by state

School	City	State	Website	Grads (’23)
Northeastern University	Boston	MA	www.northeastern.edu	115
University of California-Davis	Davis	CA	www.ucdavis.edu	74
University of Houston	Houston	TX	www.uh.edu	69
Harvard University	Cambridge	MA	www.harvard.edu	64
New York University	New York	NY	www.nyu.edu	62
North Carolina State University at Raleigh	Raleigh	NC	www.ncsu.edu	62
University of Kentucky	Lexington	KY	www.uky.edu	59
Rutgers University-New Brunswick	New Brunswick	NJ	newbrunswick.rutgers.edu	55
University of Pennsylvania	Philadelphia	PA	www.upenn.edu	48
Northwestern University	Evanston	IL	www.northwestern.edu	45
Brigham Young University	Provo	UT	www.byu.edu	42
University of Georgia	Athens	GA	www.uga.edu	42
University of Central Florida	Orlando	FL	www.ucf.edu	38
Syracuse University	Syracuse	NY	www.syracuse.edu	35
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona	Pomona	CA	www.cpp.edu	35
California State University-San Marcos	San Marcos	CA	www.csusm.edu	35
Portland Community College	Portland	OR	www.pcc.edu	35
Rush University	Chicago	IL	www.rushu.rush.edu	35
Indiana University-Bloomington	Bloomington	IN	bloomington.iu.edu	33
Columbia University in the City of New York	New York	NY	www.columbia.edu	32
James Madison University	Harrisonburg	VA	www.jmu.edu/index.shtml	32
University of Alabama at Birmingham	Birmingham	AL	www.uab.edu	30
Georgetown University	Washington	DC	www.georgetown.edu	29
Texas A & M University-College Station	College Station	TX	www.tamu.edu	28
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo	Arecibo	PR	www.arecibo.inter.edu	28
Brown University	Providence	RI	www.brown.edu	28
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus	Durham	NH	www.unh.edu	28
University of San Francisco	San Francisco	CA	www.usfca.edu	26
Worcester State University	Worcester	MA	www.worcester.edu	26
University of Illinois Chicago	Chicago	IL	www.uic.edu	26
University of Nevada-Reno	Reno	NV	www.unr.edu	26
California State University-Channel Islands	Camarillo	CA	www.csuci.edu	23
University of California-Irvine	Irvine	CA	www.uci.edu	23
Rochester Institute of Technology	Rochester	NY	www.rit.edu	22
University of Delaware	Newark	DE	www.udel.edu	22
Utah Valley University	Orem	UT	www.uvu.edu	22
University at Buffalo	Buffalo	NY	www.buffalo.edu	21
University of Southern California	Los Angeles	CA	www.usc.edu	21
Boston University	Boston	MA	www.bu.edu	20
Central New Mexico Community College	Albuquerque	NM	www.cnm.edu	19
University of Maryland-Baltimore County	Baltimore	MD	umbc.edu	19
Endicott College	Beverly	MA	www.endicott.edu	19
Ivy Tech Community College	Indianapolis	IN	www.ivytech.edu	19
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	University Park	PA	www.psu.edu	18
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce	Ponce	PR	www.pucpr.edu	18
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Barranquitas	Barranquitas	PR	www.br.inter.edu	18
University of Houston-Clear Lake	Houston	TX	www.uhcl.edu	18
William Paterson University of New Jersey	Wayne	NJ	www.wpunj.edu	18
Mount St. Mary's University	Emmitsburg	MD	msmary.edu	17
University of Rhode Island	Kingston	RI	www.uri.edu	17
University of Nebraska at Omaha	Omaha	NE	www.unomaha.edu	17
University of Hawaii at Manoa	Honolulu	HI	manoa.hawaii.edu	16
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez	Mayaguez	PR	www.uprm.edu/portada	16
University of New Hampshire at Manchester	Manchester	NH	manchester.unh.edu	16
Alamance Community College	Graham	NC	www.alamancecc.edu	15
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus	Denver	CO	www.ucdenver.edu	15
University of Houston-Downtown	Houston	TX	www.uhd.edu	15
Oregon State University	Corvallis	OR	oregonstate.edu	14
University of Arizona	Tucson	AZ	www.arizona.edu	14
Texas Woman's University	Denton	TX	twu.edu	14
Pitt Community College	Winterville	NC	pittcc.edu	13
Kean University	Union	NJ	www.kean.edu	13
Arizona State University Campus Immersion	Tempe	AZ	www.asu.edu	13
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology	Harrisburg	PA	www.harrisburgu.edu	13
University of Kansas	Lawrence	KS	ku.edu	11
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry	Syracuse	NY	www.esf.edu	11
Montgomery County Community College	Blue Bell	PA	www.mc3.edu	11
Texas Tech University	Lubbock	TX	www.ttu.edu	11
The University of Texas at Dallas	Richardson	TX	www.utdallas.edu	11
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla	Aguadilla	PR	aguadilla.inter.edu	10
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center	Lubbock	TX	www.ttuhsc.edu	10
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College	New York	NY	www.bmcc.cuny.edu	10
SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill	Cobleskill	NY	www.cobleskill.edu	10
California State University-Long Beach	Long Beach	CA	www.csulb.edu	10
Framingham State University	Framingham	MA	www.framingham.edu	10
Kent State University at Kent	Kent	OH	www.kent.edu	10
University of South Florida	Tampa	FL	www.usf.edu	10
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon	Bayamon	PR	bayamon.inter.edu	9
Florida Institute of Technology	Melbourne	FL	www.fit.edu	9
Lansing Community College	Lansing	MI	www.lcc.edu	9
North Central State College	Mansfield	OH	ncstatecollege.edu	9
The University of Texas at Tyler	Tyler	TX	www.uttyler.edu	9
Azusa Pacific University	Azusa	CA	www.apu.edu	9
Bunker Hill Community College	Boston	MA	www.bhcc.edu	9
Carnegie Mellon University	Pittsburgh	PA	www.cmu.edu	9
Northern State University	Aberdeen	SD	northern.edu	9
Southeast Community College Area	Lincoln	NE	www.southeast.edu	9
Liberty University	Lynchburg	VA	www.liberty.edu	8
North Dakota State University-Main Campus	Fargo	ND	www.ndsu.edu	8
Auburn University	Auburn	AL	www.auburn.edu	8
Ferris State University	Big Rapids	MI	www.ferris.edu	8
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Guayama	Guayama	PR	www.guayama.inter.edu	8
St. John's University-New York	Queens	NY	www.stjohns.edu	8
University of Alabama in Huntsville	Huntsville	AL	www.uah.edu	8
Brandeis University	Waltham	MA	www.brandeis.edu	7
Montana State University	Bozeman	MT	www.montana.edu	7
Duquesne University	Pittsburgh	PA	www.duq.edu	7
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	Champaign	IL	www.illinois.edu	7
Thomas Jefferson University	Philadelphia	PA	www.jefferson.edu	7
Middlesex College	Edison	NJ	middlesexcollege.edu	7
Santa Fe College	Gainesville	FL	www.sfcollege.edu	7
Southern Connecticut State University	New Haven	CT	www.southernct.edu	7
Southwest Tennessee Community College	Memphis	TN	www.southwest.tn.edu	7
Temple University	Philadelphia	PA	www.temple.edu	7
The University of Texas at San Antonio	San Antonio	TX	www.utsa.edu	7
Ball State University	Muncie	IN	www.bsu.edu	6
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania	East Stroudsburg	PA	www.esu.edu	6
Marywood University	Scranton	PA	www.marywood.edu	6
CUNY City College	New York	NY	www.ccny.cuny.edu	6
Pontotoc Technology Center	Ada	OK	www.pontotoctech.edu	6
University of California-Santa Cruz	Santa Cruz	CA	www.ucsc.edu	6
University of Utah	Salt Lake City	UT	www.utah.edu	6
Wake Technical Community College	Raleigh	NC	www.waketech.edu	6
West Virginia State University	Institute	WV	wvstateu.edu	6
CUNY York College	Jamaica	NY	www.york.cuny.edu	6
Indiana University-Indianapolis	Indianapolis	IN	indianapolis.iu.edu	5
Minnesota State University-Mankato	Mankato	MN	www.mnsu.edu	5
South Dakota State University	Brookings	SD	www.sdstate.edu	5
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus	Carolina	PR	uagm.edu/es	5
American University	Washington	DC	www.american.edu	5
Florida Atlantic University	Boca Raton	FL	www.fau.edu	5
California State University-Fresno	Fresno	CA	www.fresnostate.edu	5
Fort Valley State University	Fort Valley	GA	www.fvsu.edu	5
CUNY Queensborough Community College	Bayside	NY	www.qcc.cuny.edu	5
Connecticut State Community College	Hartford	CT	ctstate.edu	4
Tufts University	Medford	MA	www.tufts.edu	4
Vanguard University of Southern California	Costa Mesa	CA	www.vanguard.edu	4
CUNY Bronx Community College	Bronx	NY	www.bcc.cuny.edu	4
Claflin University	Orangeburg	SC	www.claflin.edu	4
Elizabethtown College	Elizabethtown	PA	www.etown.edu	4
Quinsigamond Community College	Worcester	MA	www.qcc.edu	4
Universidad del Sagrado Corazon	Santurce	PR	www.sagrado.edu	4
Tulsa Community College	Tulsa	OK	www.tulsacc.edu	4
Southern Maine Community College	South Portland	ME	www.smccme.edu	3
University of North Florida	Jacksonville	FL	www.unf.edu	3
University of Wisconsin-River Falls	River Falls	WI	www.uwrf.edu	3
Florida Gulf Coast University	Fort Myers	FL	www.fgcu.edu	3
Humacao Community College	Humacao	PR	hccpr.edu	3
Springfield Technical Community College	Springfield	MA	www.stcc.edu	3
Upstate Medical University	Syracuse	NY	www.upstate.edu	3
Wilson Community College	Wilson	NC	www.wilsoncc.edu	3
Northern Arizona University	Flagstaff	AZ	nau.edu	2
The Catholic University of America	Washington	DC	www.catholic.edu	2
Community College of Allegheny County	Pittsburgh	PA	www.ccac.edu	2
Clarkson University	Potsdam	NY	www.clarkson.edu	2
Missouri University of Science and Technology	Rolla	MO	www.mst.edu	2
Pacific Union College	Angwin	CA	www.puc.edu	2
Augusta University	Augusta	GA	www.augusta.edu	2
Florida Southern College	Lakeland	FL	www.flsouthern.edu	2
Holyoke Community College	Holyoke	MA	www.hcc.edu	2
CUNY Kingsborough Community College	Brooklyn	NY	www.kbcc.cuny.edu	2
New York Institute of Technology	Old Westbury	NY	www.nyit.edu	2
Roxbury Community College	Roxbury Crossing	MA	www.rcc.mass.edu	2
Rivier University	Nashua	NH	www.rivier.edu	2
Saint Peter's University	Jersey City	NJ	www.saintpeters.edu	2
University of Idaho	Moscow	ID	www.uidaho.edu	2
Colorado State University-Fort Collins	Fort Collins	CO	colostate.edu	1
University of Michigan-Dearborn	Dearborn	MI	umdearborn.edu	1
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	Charlotte	NC	www.charlotte.edu	1
College of Our Lady of the Elms	Chicopee	MA	www.elms.edu	1
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College	Salisbury	NC	www.rccc.edu	1
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology	Rapid City	SD	www.sdsmt.edu	1
University of Missouri-St Louis	Saint Louis	MO	www.umsl.edu	1
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point	Stevens Point	WI	www.uwsp.edu	1
Schenectady County Community College	Schenectady	NY	sunysccc.edu	1
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus	Gurabo	PR	uagm.edu/es	1
Alcorn State University	Alcorn State	MS	www.alcorn.edu	1
Bay Path University	Longmeadow	MA	www.baypath.edu	1
Bucks County Community College	Newtown	PA	www.bucks.edu	1
Community College of Rhode Island	Warwick	RI	www.ccri.edu	1
Grand View University	Des Moines	IA	www.grandview.edu	1
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce	Mercedita	PR	ponce.inter.edu	1
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo	Arecibo	PR	www.pucpr.edu/recintos/arecibo	1
Roosevelt University	Chicago	IL	www.roosevelt.edu	1

’22-’23 School Data from IPEDS (Sourced in August, 2025)

Admissions Requirements to Biotechnology Programs

The specific admissions requirements for prospective students depend on the school and the degree they decide to pursue. That said, there are some common requirements across all programs, such as:

A minimum grade point average, typically 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Submission of official transcripts from previous colleges
Letter(s) of recommendation
A personal statement describing the reason for pursuing the specific degree
Professional resume
Completion of prerequisite courses or an undergraduate degree in a relevant field
Application fee
English language proficiency and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for international students

On-Campus Biotechnology Bachelor’s Degree Programs

University of Kansas

This bachelor’s degree program is specifically designed for people who have completed an associate’s degree or the equivalent of two years of undergraduate coursework. Emphasizing practical application and critical thinking, the program’s hands-on curriculum includes a six-credit internship within industry or academia.

This 120-credit program includes 37 credits of general science classes, nine credits of applied science core classes, 36 credits of biotechnology courses, 24 credits of KU Core courses not covered by major requirements, and 14 credits of open electives. Examples of coursework for the general science requirements include foundational chemistry; organic chemistry; physics; principles of molecular & cell biology; principles of organismal biology; and genetics.

Core courses that students can expect to complete include science communications; elementary statistics or biostatistics; and a survey of management. For the biotechnology requirements, typical courses include applied immunology; biotechnology ethics and responsible conduct of research; molecular & microbial techniques; and bioinformatics.

Location: Overland Park, KS
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Expected Time to Completion: Four years

Arizona State University

The biosciences and biotechnology program at ASU prepares students for exciting careers in agriculture, healthcare, and other industries. This degree differs from others in its intense focus on biotechnology and molecular biology. Additionally, students will complete many hours of hands-on research as a final Capstone project.

Earning the degree requires a minimum of 120 credits, 45 of which must be upper-division and 30 of which students must complete at Arizona State University. Students must complete courses to earn a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology, include genetic engineering, the biology of microorganisms, organic chemistry, calculus for life sciences, and statistics for life science. The school also offers an accelerated degree option for interested students.

Graduates will be prepared for several positions, such as bioinformatics scientists, bioinformatics technicians, biological sciences professors, clinical trial managers, geneticists, health sciences managers, hydrogeologists, medical scientists, molecular biologists, and nanosystems engineers.

Location: Tempe, AZ
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Expected Time to Completion: Four years

Liberty University

Liberty University offers a bachelor of science program in biotechnology that is packed with the courses and laboratory experience required by students to pursue their careers directly after graduation or attending the medical school of their choice. Nearly all chemistry and biology courses have labs associated with them. This means that students will get hands-on experience in their classes, which will be essential to their future in laboratory work or medical school.

This 120-credit program includes courses in biochemistry; general biology; genetics; microbiology; cell biology; molecular techniques; organic chemistry; analytical chemistry; and origins.

Graduates will be ready to take up positions such as biomedical laboratory supervisors, college professors or researchers, industrial laboratory technicians, laboratory research assistants, pharmacists, and physicians.

Location: Lynchburg, VA
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Expected Time to Completion: Four years

Online Biotechnology Bachelor’s Degree Programs

University of Maryland Global Campus

Students who enroll in this program must already have technical knowledge of biotechnology through direct field experience, transfer credits, or both. This bachelor’s degree combines laboratory work, applied coursework, and an internship. The degree requires the completion of 120 credits, which includes 36 credits of major coursework, 43 credits of electives, and 41 credits of general education requirements.

Students should expect to take biological sciences; cellular and molecular biology; bioinformatics; laboratory safety and management; workplace learning in biology; and current applications and trends in the life sciences in the core portion of the program. Options for elective classes include biotechnology, biochemistry, chemistry, cell biology, immunology, genetics, molecular biology, microbiology, and physics.

Location: Largo, MD
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Expected Time to Completion: Two to four years

On-Campus Biotechnology Master’s Degree Programs

Columbia University

This master’s program is particularly appropriate for those who wish to pursue a career in either the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry. Recent graduates of the program hold positions in research laboratories, drug approval regulations, and law firms specializing in biotechnology. Students often choose this program as an alternative to spending up to seven years to earn a doctorate. Because the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries are among the largest in the country, the demand for professionals with this specialized training continues to grow.

Core courses in this 30-credit program include biotechnology, drugs and disease, and a seminar in biotechnology. Students also complete an intensive laboratory course in biotechnology which provides them with hands-on experience in biotechnology methods. The school requires 15 credits of electives, which include entrepreneurship in biotechnology; molecular biology of cancer; biotechnology law; cellular neurobiology; genetics; systems neurobiology; cell biology; immunology; and molecular biology.

Location: New York, NY
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Expected Time to Completion: Full-time students (one year); part-time study is also available

New York University

In response to the explosive growth of the biotechnology industry, the Tandon School of Engineering has created a master’s degree program that prepares students for careers in drug design, healthcare biotechnology, and more.

The program requires the completion of 30 credits and includes 15 credits of core courses in biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry; biotechnology and health care; biosensors and biochips; biocatalysis in the industry; and protein engineering. Additionally, students will be required to take nine to fifteen credits of electives in bioanalytical chemistry; biochemistry; drug delivery; genetic engineering; neuroscience, and six credits from two elective courses in guided studies in biotechnology.

Students must earn at least a 3.0 grade point average in all courses to graduate. The school also offers a dual biotechnology and entrepreneurship master’s program for biotechnologists interested in creating and growing a business.

Location: Brooklyn, NY
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years

Online Biotechnology Master’s Degree Programs

Johns Hopkins University

As a leading research university, Johns Hopkins offers a 10-course biotechnology master’s degree program that provides students with a strong background in biochemistry, cell biology, genomics, molecular biology, and proteomics. Students can choose from six concentrations: biodefense, bioinformatics, biotechnology enterprise, regenerative and stem cell technologies, regulatory affairs, and drug discoveries.

All students complete four core courses in biochemistry; molecular biology; advanced cell biology; and cellular signal transduction, then six electives according to their concentration. The program comprises 40 credits.

Location: Baltimore, MD
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Expected Time to Completion: One to two years; both full-time and part-time available

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Hybrid)

This is a blended 30-credit program that requires online coursework and on-site laboratory work at the school’s campus in Worcester, Massachusetts. Students complete several skill-based biology and biotechnology courses, including fermentation biology; protein purification; cell biology; genetic engineering; and bioinformatics. They also complete two chemistry electives—in drug regulations and membrane protein-targeted drug design—and several business electives.

Examples of business electives include managing technical innovation, entrepreneurship, and project management. Students must take 15 credits of biology and biotechnology courses, nine credits of skills-based courses, and six credits of elective courses. Before enrolling in this program, they must also possess an undergraduate degree in engineering or life sciences.

Location: Worcester, MA
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years

Northeastern University

Northeastern University’s MS in biotechnology is an innovative, non-thesis graduate degree that combines advanced interdisciplinary training in biology, biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences, and chemistry. Graduates are prepared to collaborate, lead, and innovate as managerial, technical, or research professionals in various biotechnology specialties. The program offers students the opportunity to pursue one of the ten available concentrations for furthering their knowledge in a specific topical area of the field.

Concentration options include agricultural biotechnology; biodefense; biopharmaceutical analytical sciences; biotechnology enterprise; biotechnology regulatory science; manufacturing and quality operations; molecular biotechnology; pharmaceutical technologies; process science; and scientific information management. Some concentrations require a two-week Boston residency.

The program’s core courses consist of 34 credits, including molecular cell biology for biotechnology; foundations in biotechnology; the biotechnology enterprise; scientific information management for biotechnology managers; cell culture processes for biopharmaceutical production; experimental design and biostatistics; and protein chemistry.

Location: Boston, MA
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years

Other On-Campus Biotechnology Programs

Salt Lake Community College

This school’s associate degree in science in biotechnology prepares students for entry-level or mid-career level work in the field. The degree requires a minimum of 61 credits. Courses are taught by faculty members with extensive experience in research settings.

Examples of courses include an introduction to biotechnology and lab; applied molecular biology; biomolecular separation and analysis; college biology; cell culture; advanced molecular methods; and two sessions of general chemistry with labs. Students also choose three elective credits, such as microbiology; statistics for applied science; and organic chemistry. Salt Lake Community College also offers a 16-credit certificate of proficiency in biotechnology. The certificate of proficiency stacks fully into the AS degree in biotechnology.

Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Expected Time to Completion: Two years if full-time

University of Maryland Baltimore County

In addition to its master’s program, the University of Maryland Baltimore County offers certificate programs in biotechnology management and biochemical regulatory engineering. Each certificate requires the completion of 12 credits.

The certificate in biotechnology management requires students to complete four three-credit courses. These include project management fundamentals; business principles of the biotechnology industry; legal & ethical issues in the science professions; and management, leadership, and communication.

The four three-credit courses for the certificate in biochemical regulatory engineering include regulatory issues in biotechnology; good manufacturing practices for bioprocess; quality control and quality assurance for biotechnology products; and biotechnology GMP facility design, construction, and validation.

Location: Baltimore, MD
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Expected Time to Completion: One year part-time

Other Online Biotechnology Programs

Northeastern University

The biotechnology graduate certificate at Northeastern University requires the completion of four three-credit courses. These include molecular cell biology for biotechnology; foundations in biotechnology; cell culture processes for biopharmaceutical production; and protein chemistry. The certificate was designed in response to the growing need in the biotechnology industry for students without a biotechnology background looking to gain a strong foundation in basic biotechnology skills and concepts.

Available both part-time and full-time, this graduate certificate can serve as a gateway to the MS in biotechnology program. The program comprises 12 credits.

Location: Boston, MA
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
Expected Time to Completion: One year

Harvard University Extension School (Hybrid)

This hybrid graduate program requires the completion of 12 courses, two or more of which must be completed on campus. Students can choose electives relevant to their certificate topic or a second graduate credential, including bioinformatics, biotechnology management, innovation and entrepreneurship, and project management.

The bioinformatics certificate teaches students to work with genetic and biological data in various contexts. The biotechnology management certificate introduces the business side of biotechnology. The innovation and entrepreneur certificate focuses on these topics relating to biotechnology and the project management certificate focuses on technical and business management skills. Students can also choose a thesis or capstone track as they complete their courses.

Location: Cambridge, MA
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
Expected Time to Completion: One to two years

List of Online Biotechnology Schools

Filter by state

School	City	State	Website	Grads (’23)
Gaston College	Dallas	NC	www.gaston.edu	531
Johns Hopkins University	Baltimore	MD	www.jhu.edu	470
University of Maryland Global Campus	Adelphi	MD	www.umgc.edu	181
Northeastern University	Boston	MA	www.northeastern.edu	115
Harvard University	Cambridge	MA	www.harvard.edu	64
University of Wisconsin-Madison	Madison	WI	www.wisc.edu	42
Northeastern University Professional Programs	Boston	MA	www.northeastern.edu	41
Morehouse School of Medicine	Atlanta	GA	www.msm.edu	39
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Barranquitas	Barranquitas	PR	www.br.inter.edu	18
Mount St. Mary's University	Emmitsburg	MD	msmary.edu	17
Worcester Polytechnic Institute	Worcester	MA	www.wpi.edu	14
University of St Thomas	Houston	TX	www.stthom.edu	5
South Dakota State University	Brookings	SD	www.sdstate.edu	5
University of Wisconsin-Parkside	Kenosha	WI	www.uwp.edu	3
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay	Green Bay	WI	www.uwgb.edu	2
Wilmington University	New Castle	DE	www.wilmu.edu	2
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point	Stevens Point	WI	www.uwsp.edu	1
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater	Whitewater	WI	www.uww.edu	1

’22-’23 School Data from IPEDS (Sourced in August, 2025)

Accreditation and State Authorization for Online Programs

When selecting a school, it is important for students to ensure that it has received outside accreditation. This means that a third-party organization has reviewed the college, its programs, admissions process, job placement rate, and several other factors and determined that all meet high standards. A school can earn regional accreditation for the entire campus or separate accreditation for various programs. The most reputable regional accrediting bodies include:

New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
New England Association of Colleges and Schools
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Finally, another essential component prospective students should be aware of is whether an online school located in a different state has received authorization to offer degrees to out-of-state students. The formal term for this is “state authorization.” Since each state reaches separate agreements with other states, programs may not be available to students in all locations. It’s also common for tuition to cost more for out-of-state students than for in-state students.

Rachel Drummond, MEd

Writer

Rachel Drummond has contributed insightful articles to MedicalTechnologySchools.com since 2019, where she offers valuable advice and guidance for those pursuing careers in the healthcare field, combining her passion for education with her understanding of the critical role that healthcare professionals play in promoting physical and mental well-being.

Rachel is a writer, educator, and coach from Oregon. She has a master’s degree in education (MEd) and has over 15 years of experience teaching English, public speaking, and mindfulness to international audiences in the United States, Japan, and Spain. She writes about the mind-body benefits of contemplative movement practices like yoga on her blog, inviting people to prioritize their unique version of well-being and empowering everyone to live healthier and more balanced lives.

Farheen Gani

Writer

Farheen Gani has immense knowledge about medical technology schools, having researched topics such as medical billing and coding, health information management, nursing informatics, and biotechnology degree programs since 2018. She is a freelance writer, marketer, and researcher. She writes about healthcare, technology, education, and marketing. Her work has appeared on websites such as Tech in Asia and Foundr, as well as top SaaS blogs such as Zapier and InVision. You can connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter (@FarheenGani).