Best institutions to study Biophysics
A program that focuses on the application of physics principles to the scientific study of the mechanisms of biological processes and assemblies at all levels of complexity.
52 U.S. institutions graduated 266 Biophysics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 26.0203, a specialization of Biochemistry (CIP 26.02), and leads most directly to the Biochemists and Biophysicists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1021).
About Biophysics programs
A program that focuses on the application of physics principles to the scientific study of the mechanisms of biological processes and assemblies at all levels of complexity. Includes instruction in research methods and equipment operation and applications to subjects such as bioenergetics, biophysical theory and modeling, electrophysics, membrane biology, channels, receptors and transporters, contractility and muscle function, protein shaping and folding, molecular and supramolecular structures and assemblies, and computational science.
See also: 51.2205 - Health/Medical Physics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Biophysics program, a specialized branch of Biochemistry, focuses on the application of physics principles to understand biological processes at various levels of complexity. This program is ideal for students interested in exploring the mechanisms behind biological systems, utilizing a blend of physics, biology, and chemistry to conduct research and analysis. Students in this program will engage in rigorous scientific study, learning to apply theoretical knowledge to practical challenges in the biological sciences. This interdisciplinary approach prepares graduates for advanced research and various roles in the scientific community.
Core coursework in the Biophysics program includes topics such as bioenergetics, membrane biology, and computational science. Students develop essential skills in critical thinking, active learning, and scientific writing, along with a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, and physics.
Credentials awarded
What Biophysics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree121 graduates / yr · 33 institutions46%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship98 graduates / yr · 21 institutions37%
- Master's degree43 graduates / yr · 14 institutions16%
- Doctor's degree - professional practice4 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.5%
Graduates over time
Biophysics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 260 |
| 2013 | 259 |
| 2014 | 309 |
| 2015 | 293 |
| 2016 | 264 |
| 2017 | 288 |
| 2018 | 295 |
| 2019 | 445 |
| 2020 | 483 |
| 2021 | 260 |
| 2022 | 288 |
| 2023 | 257 |
| 2024 | 309 |
| 2025 | 266 |
Top 50 institutions for Biophysics, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoral | 22 | 94% | $11,888 | — |
| 2 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 18 | 93% | — | $35,210 |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 18 | 90% | — | $44,074 |
| 4 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 13 | 93% | — | $26,151 |
| 5 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 12 | 93% | — | — |
| 6 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicDoctoralMaster's | 12 | 88% | — | $36,427 |
| 7 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 11 | 81% | $13,712 | $31,225 |
| 8 | Brown University Providence, RIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 96% | $14,644 | $43,637 |
| 9 | University of California - San Francisco San Francisco, CAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 9 | — | — | — |
| 10 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, ILPublicDoctoral | 9 | 85% | — | — |
| 11 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 9 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 12 | University of Rochester Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 8 | 85% | $25,874 | — |
| 13 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 7 | 96% | $13,333 | — |
| 14 | Northeastern University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 91% | $18,925 | $63,781 |
| 15 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 96% | $15,315 | — |
| 16 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 5 | 86% | — | $42,266 |
| 17 | Georgetown University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 95% | $22,242 | — |
| 18 | Brandeis University Waltham, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 86% | $25,074 | $47,410 |
| 19 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford, OHPublicBachelor's | 5 | 80% | — | — |
| 20 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 97% | $22,055 | — |
| 21 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 73% | $33,454 | $38,487 |
| 22 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 4 | 95% | $17,613 | — |
| 23 | Xavier University Cincinnati, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 69% | $31,119 | — |
| 24 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio, TXPublicDoctoral (prof.) | 4 | — | — | — |
| 25 | Stanford University Stanford, CAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 4 | 92% | $12,032 | — |
| 26 | University of California - Riverside Riverside, CAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 3 | 76% | — | $30,077 |
| 27 | Pitzer College Claremont, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 83% | $23,248 | — |
| 28 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, INPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 3 | 95% | $19,452 | — |
| 29 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MDPublicDoctoral | 3 | 89% | — | $48,721 |
| 30 | Rockhurst University Kansas City, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 75% | $21,890 | — |
| 31 | Princeton University Princeton, NJPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 98% | $13,729 | $41,848 |
| 32 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 94% | $23,803 | — |
| 33 | Southern Adventist University Collegedale, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 49% | $24,187 | — |
| 34 | University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VAPublicDoctoral | 3 | 96% | — | — |
| 35 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 2 | 75% | $19,899 | — |
| 36 | St Lawrence University Canton, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 79% | $24,100 | — |
| 37 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoral | 2 | 86% | $25,823 | — |
| 38 | Marquette University Milwaukee, WIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 83% | $25,376 | — |
| 39 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicBachelor's | 1 | 86% | — | $45,066 |
| 40 | Pacific Union College Angwin, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 58% | $18,938 | — |
| 41 | University of San Diego San Diego, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 84% | $26,035 | $48,728 |
| 42 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 92% | $26,873 | $34,468 |
| 43 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicBachelor's | 1 | 83% | — | — |
| 44 | George Washington University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 84% | $29,789 | — |
| 45 | Emory University Atlanta, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 91% | $20,586 | — |
| 46 | Duke University Durham, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 97% | $16,260 | — |
| 47 | East Carolina University Greenville, NCPublicDoctoral | 1 | 63% | — | — |
| 48 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 89% | $20,914 | — |
| 49 | Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 92% | $18,174 | — |
| 50 | Temple University Philadelphia, PAPublicBachelor's | 1 | 75% | — | $45,994 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Biochemistry field (CIP 26.02) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 22 states
Where Biophysics graduates come from. Each state links to all Biochemistry programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1021, Biochemists and Biophysicists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Biophysics program often pursue careers as biochemists and biophysicists, with a median wage of $103,650. The job outlook for this field is faster than average, with an expected growth rate of 5.8% and approximately 2,900 annual openings, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 26.0203
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Biochemists and Biophysicistsprimary SOC 19-1021 | $127,410 | +5.8% Faster than average | ~2,900 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists SOC 19-1042 | $103,410 | +8.7% Much faster than average | ~9,600 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Natural Sciences Managers SOC 11-9121 | $167,220 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1042 | $84,620 | +7.3% Faster than average | ~5,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Biophysics programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Share research findings by writing scientific articles or by making presentations at scientific conferences.
- Teach or advise undergraduate or graduate students or supervise their research.
- Study physical principles of living cells or organisms and their electrical or mechanical energy, applying methods and knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, or biology.
- Manage laboratory teams or monitor the quality of a team's work.
- Develop new methods to study the mechanisms of biological processes.
- Write grant proposals to obtain funding for research.
Tools and technology used
Other Biochemistry specializations
The 9 other 6-digit CIP codes under Biochemistry (CIP 26.02).
- BiochemistryCIP 26.020210,036 graduates / yr593 institutions
- Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyCIP 26.02101,607 graduates / yr98 institutions
- Molecular BiologyCIP 26.02041,352 graduates / yr75 institutions
- Molecular BiochemistryCIP 26.0205494 graduates / yr18 institutions
- BiochemistryCIP 26.0299330 graduates / yr21 institutions
- Molecular BiophysicsCIP 26.0206partial data207 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Radiation Biology/CIP 26.0209
Radiobiology partial data25 graduates / yr5 institutions - Structural BiologyCIP 26.0207limited data17 graduates / yr2 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Photobiology26.0208
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What is the focus of the Biophysics program?+
The program focuses on applying physics principles to study biological processes and mechanisms.
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral degree in Biophysics.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Biophysics?+
Graduates commonly work as biochemists, medical scientists, or biological science teachers.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, scientific writing, and research methods.
What is the CIP code for Biophysics?+
Biophysics is CIP 26.0203 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Biochemistry (CIP 26.02). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the application of physics principles to the scientific study of the mechanisms of biological processes and assemblies at all levels of complexity. Includes instruction in research methods and equipment operation and applications to subjects such as bioenergetics, biophysical theory and modeling, electrophysics, membrane biology, channels, receptors and transporters, contractility and muscle function, protein shaping and folding, molecular and supramolecular structures and assemblies, and computational science.
How many institutions offer Biophysics programs?+
52 U.S. institutions reported Biophysics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 22 states, awarding 266 credentials in the year. That is 1.9% of all Biochemistry graduates.
How much do Biophysics graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Biochemists and Biophysicists occupation, which Biophysics most directly leads to, pays a median of $127,410 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Biochemistry field report median earnings of $43,333 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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