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What can you do with a Biology degree from University of California, Santa Cruz?

First, some facts. Of the Biology graduates from University of California, Santa Cruz we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 19 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 77%, Biology graduates from University of California, Santa Cruz have a higher likelihood (+10%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 77%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 57% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Biology graduate.

See the details:

View a random Biology graduate from University of California, Santa Cruz and our analysis:

Relevance score: 100%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2020 from University of California, Santa Cruz with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Biology. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Dog Training Manager
Canine Comprehensive
Nov 2020 - Oct 2021
The role of Dog Training Manager directly involves applying behavioral knowledge and training techniques rooted in biology, particularly animal behavior, which is integral to the Bachelor of Science in Biology.

Dog Behaviorist
Radiant Dogs, LLC.
Jan 2022 - Nov 2023
As a Dog Behaviorist, this position requires extensive knowledge of animal behavior and biology, aligning closely with the academic background in biology and utilizing specific skills on a daily basis.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Biology degree from University of California, Santa Cruz?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:

It looks like graduates with a Biology degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz have landed in a variety of roles across different industries, but their relevance to biology varies significantly. A lot of them have gone into fields such as physical therapy and nursing, where biological knowledge is crucial for patient care and understanding human physiology. For instance, many graduates are working as physical therapists, which directly utilizes their biology education in assessing and treating patients. Similarly, nursing roles also demand extensive biological expertise, showcasing a solid link to their studies.

On the flip side, quite a few alumni have taken paths that aren’t directly related to biology. Jobs like retail specialist or human resources roles don’t leverage their biology background much at all, which can be a little disappointing considering the effort that goes into a degree. However, the standout positions like roles in research, veterinary care, and physical therapy show that there are definitely avenues for biology graduates to apply their knowledge meaningfully. Overall, while there are some unrelated positions, many graduates are using their biology degrees in impactful ways, especially within healthcare and research settings.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Biology graduates (this is across all Biology graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of California, Santa Cruz):

What kind of career trajectories do Biology graduates from University of California, Santa Cruz have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Graduates from UC Santa Cruz with a Biology degree seem to have a pretty varied career trajectory, especially in the first few years post-graduation. Many of them start off in entry-level positions that are somewhat related to biology, like working as lab technicians or research associates. For instance, several graduates took jobs at companies like Genentech or Illumina in technical roles that utilize their scientific training, which is a positive sign for those hoping to stay in the field right away. Others seemed to branch out into health-related roles, especially in physical therapy or similar areas, which can leverage their biology knowledge nicely. However, there were also quite a few who ended up in positions that seem to be more about customer service or management, like working at Starbucks or retail, which indicates that not everyone finds a direct path into a biology-related career immediately.

As for what these graduates are doing five or ten years out, there's a mix that mirrors their early paths. Many who started in research or lab roles have moved up within their companies or transitioned to more advanced positions in fields like pharmaceuticals or healthcare. For instance, we see several people advancing from technician roles to chemists or even moving into managerial roles. On the other hand, some graduates who took more alternative routes—like those moving into education or customer service—seem to have stuck with those fields rather than coming back to biology-related careers. Overall, while many graduates find fulfilling roles connected to their biology degree, a fair number also appear to pivot to other industries, indicating a more scattered post-graduation outcome than one might hope for in a specific field like biology.

How hard is a Biology degree from University of California, Santa Cruz?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Biology at UC Santa Cruz can be quite the challenge, but it's also super rewarding if you’re into the subject. The coursework is often rigorous, with a mix of lectures, labs, and research projects that really demand your time and attention. You’ll dive deep into topics like genetics, ecology, and molecular biology, which can be tough, especially if you’re not already into the sciences. That said, if you're genuinely interested in the material and willing to put in the effort, it can be a fun ride. Just be prepared for some late nights and study sessions, as it tends to be a bit harder than the average major!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Biology.

Do Biology graduates from University of California, Santa Cruz tend to make good money?

So, looking at the career paths of these UC Santa Cruz Biology grads, it seems like they’re doing pretty well overall in terms of income, especially compared to some other fields. Those in positions like chemists, physical therapists, and research associates tend to earn decent salaries, especially as they move up in their careers. For instance, the chemists at Bio-Rad and the physical therapists have jobs that could easily bring in a solid paycheck. However, some roles, like physical therapy aides or retail positions, might not pay as well initially. It’s a mixed bag, but a lot of them are on a decent upward trajectory, which is promising. It definitely looks like they’re positioning themselves for good earning potential in the long run!

What buzzwords do Biology graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Biology (this is across all Biology graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of California, Santa Cruz). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Biology?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Biology (ordered by the average relevance score of their Biology graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
American University of Beirut 95 10
Luther College 90 11
Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick 87 11
The College of New Jersey 86 13
Tufts University 86 17
Saint Louis University 86 11
Saint Joseph's University 86 10
Brandeis University 86 14
California State University-Los Angeles 85 12
Temple University 83 20
University of Pittsburgh 82 32
George Mason University 82 31
Boston University 82 12
University of Maryland 82 15
Wake Forest University 82 16
Seton Hall University 82 19
Texas Tech University 81 18
Illinois State University 81 13
Case Western Reserve University 81 12
University of Oregon 80 13
Cornell University 80 38
California State University, Fresno 80 11
University of Maryland Baltimore County 80 25
Washington University in St. Louis 80 13
California State University Channel Islands 80 11
Muhlenberg College 80 11
University of Scranton 80 11
University of Florida 79 67
Northeastern University 79 31
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 79 19
Georgia Institute of Technology 79 11
Boston College 79 23
University of Oklahoma 78 11
University of Alabama 78 16
Carleton College 78 11
University of Missouri-Columbia 77 29
University of Delaware 77 22
University of California, Santa Cruz 77 19
Providence College 77 11
Oberlin College 77 12
Iowa State University 76 17
University of Virginia 76 30
University of Massachusetts Amherst 76 18
Northwestern University 76 11
Kean University 76 13
Loyola University Chicago 76 25
William & Mary 76 19
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 76 18
Butler University 76 10
The University of Georgia 75 44
UC Irvine 75 56
University of New Hampshire 75 10
Drexel University 75 13
University of Louisiana at Lafayette 75 13
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 75 18
Binghamton University 75 24
The University of New Mexico 75 14
Wright State University 75 13
UC San Diego 75 13
Gustavus Adolphus College 75 10
Grand Valley State University 74 14
Miami University 74 10
University of North Florida 74 17
UC Santa Barbara 74 27
Rutgers University 74 18
Duke University 74 23
St. Olaf College 74 14
The University of Texas-Pan American 74 10
Davidson College 74 17
Ohio University 73 14
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 73 18
Towson University 73 14
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 73 60
The University of Texas at San Antonio 73 28
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 73 23
University of Illinois at Chicago 73 32
University of California San Diego 73 11
Stockton University 73 16
University of St. Thomas 73 12
University of Portland 73 15
University of Houston 72 39
San Diego State University 72 16
East Carolina University 72 22
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 72 20
Syracuse University 72 13
Wayne State University 72 20
University of Miami 72 15
University of Massachusetts Lowell 72 12
University at Albany, SUNY 72 12
Hunter College 72 10
University of San Francisco 72 10
University of Missouri-Kansas City 72 12
SUNY Oneonta 72 11
Fairleigh Dickinson University 72 15
Florida State University 71 54
James Madison University 71 40
California State University-Sacramento 71 13
University of Cincinnati 71 24
Oklahoma State University 71 15
West Virginia University 71 19
The University of Alabama 71 16
University of Vermont 71 17
University of Notre Dame 71 10
University of North Carolina at Wilmington 71 26
University of California, Irvine 71 38
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse 71 12
University of Nevada, Reno 71 15
University of Maine 71 14
University of San Diego 71 11
Williams College 71 12
Indiana University Bloomington 70 31
University of Arkansas 70 25
University of Nevada-Las Vegas 70 12
University of North Carolina at Greensboro 70 26
Radford University 70 10
University of Washington Bothell 70 11
University of Wisconsin-Madison 69 54
Virginia Tech 69 16
The University of Texas at Dallas 69 32
Montclair State University 69 17
Rowan University 69 19
University of California, Santa Barbara 69 18
Texas Christian University 69 14
SUNY Geneseo 69 13
Texas A&M University 68 44
University of Utah 68 18
Mississippi State University 68 14
California State University San Marcos 68 11
Salisbury University 68 13
Valdosta State University 68 15
Xavier University 68 11
Smith College 68 10
Willamette University 68 13
The Ohio State University 67 49
University of California, Los Angeles 67 46
Kent State University 67 10
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona 67 14
University of California, Riverside 67 59
Kennesaw State University 67 21
University at Buffalo 67 22
University of Minnesota 67 12
Boise State University 67 10
Metropolitan State University of Denver 67 15
Villanova University 67 14
Stanford University 67 11
Campbell University 67 12
Pacific Lutheran University 67 13
University of Michigan 66 14
Clemson University 66 37
University of Iowa 66 10
University of South Carolina 66 23
Nova Southeastern University 66 26
University of Georgia - Franklin College of Arts and Sciences 66 24
State University of New York College at Geneseo 66 15
The University of Texas at Austin 65 49
University of North Texas 65 43
Georgia State University 65 39
University of Connecticut 65 22
College of Charleston 65 18
University of Pennsylvania 65 10
Brown University 65 10
University of North Carolina Wilmington 65 10
University of Illinois Chicago 65 17
Florida Atlantic University 64 44
Northern Arizona University 64 17
Ball State University 64 18
The University of Akron 64 10
University of Alabama at Birmingham 64 16
Emory University 64 18
Truman State University 64 12
Penn State University 63 39
Arizona State University 63 49
Colorado State University 63 29
University of Rhode Island 63 20
University of West Georgia 63 12
Jackson State University 63 13
University of Washington 62 51
Florida International University 62 59
Louisiana State University 62 33
Baylor University 62 29
North Carolina State University 61 28
Virginia Commonwealth University 61 49
Loyola Marymount University 61 12
St. Mary's College of Maryland 61 13
University of California, Davis 60 45
The University of Texas at Arlington 60 41
St. John's University 60 25
Texas State University 59 19
University of Mississippi 59 16
Marshall University 59 10
Purdue University 58 13
New York University 58 13
University of Kentucky 58 26
Old Dominion University 58 21
University of Colorado Denver 58 26
Texas Woman's University 58 14
Dillard University 58 10
San Francisco State University 57 10
Washington State University 57 18
Georgia Southern University 57 25
University of Central Florida 56 34
University of South Florida 56 12
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 56 11
Howard University 56 27
Randolph-Macon College 56 10
Northern Illinois University 55 16
Grand Canyon University 54 14
Bowling Green State University 54 11
University of Hawaii at Manoa 54 16
University of Southern California 53 15
Central Connecticut State University 53 12
Oregon State University 52 13
Oakland University 52 18
University of Nebraska at Omaha 52 11
Christopher Newport University 52 11
San Diego State University-California State University 51 15
University of California, San Diego 51 21
New Mexico State University 51 13
Winthrop University 51 10
Eckerd College 50 10
Saint Peter's University 50 10
Stony Brook University 48 24
Texas Southern University 48 10
Francis Marion University 48 11
The Citadel 47 10
Spelman College 47 12
Southeastern Louisiana University 42 10
University of Louisville 37 11