Universities in USA for Biotechnology – Ranking, Fees & Jobs

Finding good universities in USA for biotechnology is not difficult, provided you do your homework carefully in advance. Master’s programs usually span two years and you can choose full-time, part-time, or even online degrees in agriculture in the USA. The course is majorly research-based and enables aspirants to venture into specialized research and careers in biological sciences in the future. 

As per IUPAC Biotechnology is defined as the multidisciplinary discipline that involves the integration of natural sciences and engineering sciences in order to achieve the application

of organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogs for products and services. In layman’s terms, that stream of education integrates technology and living cellular and biomolecular processes to improve human lives. In today’s world, it is gaining prominence due to its diverse nature and applications in various fields. 

Biotechnology is pursued in four major areas such as

• Medical Biotechnology
• Agriculture Biotechnology
• Industrial Biotechnology,
• Environmental Biotechnology

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Benefits of studying biotechnology in the USA

Here are some of the top benefits of pursuing biotechnology in the USA: 

• The pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors are the biggest industries and recruiters in the USA, hiring graduates in large numbers. 
• Demand is on the rise for skilled biotechnologists and researchers throughout the USA. Job opportunities are slated to increase handsomely over the next few years in the field. 
• The USA is a highly advanced nation, having ushered in revolutionary concepts and progress in fields like food, agriculture, medicine, waste management and others via biotechnological procedures. 
• Candidates can continue research after completing their master’s programs while applying for PhDs and other doctoral programs. 
• They can also take up jobs at various corporations and both public and private sector entities based on their specialization.

Colors of Biotechnology

Probably the only discipline, which is color-coded, the ten different application areas of

biotechnology have been assigned color codes.

Color Code	Biotechnology Branch/ Field
Green	Agriculture Biotechnology mainly transgenics or genetic modification, biopesticides, and biofertilizers)
Red	Medical Biotechnology, Biopharma,
White	Industrial Biotechnology, Energy-efficient, less pollution, low resource consuming
Gold	Bioinformatics, computational biology
Grey	Environment Protection Biotechnology, maintain biodiversity
Blue	Marine (Aquatic) Biotechnology
Yellow	Food Nutritional Biotechnology, food production
Violet	IPR, law, Ethics, philosophy, and Biosafety
Brown	Arid and damp; Desert Biotechnology
Dark	Bioterrorism, Biological Weapons

Reasons to study Biotechnology in the USA 

Eligibility for MS in Biotechnology in the USA 

Although the eligibility criteria vary across the universities, the common entry requirements for international students are;

Program	Admission requirements
MS in Biotechnology	An undergraduate degree in a science field  Previous Academic transcripts Standardized test scores (SAT and ACT) Two letters of recommendation English language proficiency test scores

Source:  University’s official website 

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Top Universities for Biotechnology in the USA 

The below table shows the Best Global Universities for Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology in the USA 

University	Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report	Annual tuition fee
Harvard University	1	$37,200
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	2	$77,020
Stanford University	3	$56,000
University of California, San Diego	4	$11,442.00
University of California, Berkeley	8	$28,000

Source: U.S. News & World Report

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Academic intakes in the USA 

The below table shows the academic intakes that the USA offers for students

Intake	Admission cycle
Fall intake: This is the primary intake of the USA,  preferred by the majority of Indian students. It commences in August and continues till late December.	The admission for this intake starts 9 to 12 months before you join the program
Spring intake: The spring intake begins in January and goes up till April. The students who miss their chance to apply during the fall intake can apply to the universities that offer Spring intake.	The admissions for Spring intake open in September and close in January.
Summer intake: This intake is least preferred by international students as there are limited universities that offer this intake.  It starts in May and continues till August.	The admission for this intake starts 9 to 12 months before you join the program

Source:  Official University Website 

Note: Application deadlines for all three intakes might vary as per the chosen university 

Biotechnology: Career prospects 

After finishing your degree in Biotechnology, there are numerous job opportunities that you can explore. 

Job title	Average Annual salary
Food Scientist	$68,301
Microbiologist	$55,887
Epidemiologist	$68,124
Biomedical Engineer	$69,125

Source: PayScale 

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Study in the USA with upGrad Abroad

upGrad Abroad gives you a chance to study at some of the finest universities in the USA, namely, Clark University, Touro University, and Golden Gate University. The advantage of choosing upGrad Abroad as your study partner is getting help with your IELTS preparation. You get the flexibility to start your study program online for a specific duration and then switch to on-campus study. Apart from that, you would be eligible for a post-study work permit after graduation.