Best institutions to study Molecular Biophysics
A scientific program that focuses on the dynamics and interactions of macromolecules and other three-dimensional ultrastructures, the architecture of supramolecular structures, and energy transfer in biomolecular systems.
4 U.S. institutions graduated 207 Molecular Biophysics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 26.0206, a specialization of Biochemistry (CIP 26.02), and leads most directly to the Biochemists and Biophysicists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1021).
About Molecular Biophysics programs
A scientific program that focuses on the dynamics and interactions of macromolecules and other three-dimensional ultrastructures, the architecture of supramolecular structures, and energy transfer in biomolecular systems. Includes instruction in energy transduction, structural dynamics, mechanisms of electron and proton transfer in biological systems, bioinformatics, automated analysis, and specialized research techniques.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Molecular Biophysics program, a specialized branch of Biochemistry, delves into the dynamics and interactions of macromolecules and other complex biological structures. This program is designed for students interested in understanding the physical principles that govern biological systems, including energy transfer and structural dynamics at the molecular level.
Students in this program will acquire essential skills in science, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework typically includes topics in energy transduction, bioinformatics, and specialized research techniques, equipping graduates with a strong foundation in both theoretical and practical aspects of molecular biophysics.
Credentials awarded
What Molecular Biophysics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Post-master's certificate185 graduates / yr · 1 institution89%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship21 graduates / yr · 4 institutions10%
- Master's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.5%
Graduates over time
Molecular Biophysics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 20 |
| 2015 | 21 |
| 2016 | 18 |
| 2017 | 20 |
| 2018 | 209 |
| 2019 | 20 |
| 2020 | 20 |
| 2021 | 216 |
| 2022 | 182 |
| 2023 | 167 |
| 2024 | 187 |
| 2025 | 207 |
Top 4 institutions for Molecular 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 | University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TXPublicMaster'sDoctoralMaster's | 192 | — | — | — |
| 2 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FLPublicDoctoral | 7 | 86% | — | $31,074 |
| 3 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 4 | 94% | $11,888 | — |
| 4 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicDoctoral | 4 | 85% | — | $33,554 |
* 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 4 states
Where Molecular Biophysics graduates come from. Each state links to all Biochemistry programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1 | 192 | University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center192 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 7 | Florida State University7 / yr |
| Maryland | 1 | 4 | Johns Hopkins University4 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 4 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus4 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1021, Biochemists and Biophysicists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Molecular Biophysics program often pursue careers as biochemists and biophysicists, with a median wage of $103,650. The job outlook is promising, with a projected growth rate of 5.8% and approximately 2,900 annual openings, primarily requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 26.0206
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 |
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 Molecular 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
- BiophysicsCIP 26.0203266 graduates / yr52 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 degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a post-master's certificate, a doctor's degree in research/scholarship, or a master's degree.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in science, critical thinking, writing, and active learning.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a biochemist, biophysicist, or in related fields such as natural sciences management.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 5.8% and around 2,900 openings annually.
What is the CIP code for Molecular Biophysics?+
Molecular Biophysics is CIP 26.0206 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Biochemistry (CIP 26.02). NCES defines it as: A scientific program that focuses on the dynamics and interactions of macromolecules and other three-dimensional ultrastructures, the architecture of supramolecular structures, and energy transfer in biomolecular systems. Includes instruction in energy transduction, structural dynamics, mechanisms of electron and proton transfer in biological systems, bioinformatics, automated analysis, and specialized research techniques.
How many institutions offer Molecular Biophysics programs?+
4 U.S. institutions reported Molecular Biophysics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 4 states, awarding 207 credentials in the year. That is 1.4% of all Biochemistry graduates.
How much do Molecular Biophysics graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Biochemists and Biophysicists occupation, which Molecular 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 $33,554 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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