Best institutions to study Structural Biology
A program that focuses on the scientific study of submolecular and molecular components and assemblies of living systems and how they are organized into functional units such as cells and anatomic tissues.
2 U.S. institutions graduated 17 Structural Biology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 26.0207, a specialization of Biochemistry (CIP 26.02), and leads most directly to the Biochemists and Biophysicists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1021).
About Structural Biology programs
A program that focuses on the scientific study of submolecular and molecular components and assemblies of living systems and how they are organized into functional units such as cells and anatomic tissues. Includes instruction in glycoprotein, carbohydrate, protein, and nucleic acid structures and chemistry; cytoskeletal structure; nuclear and intracellular structures; molecular recognition; molecular chaperones; transcription and folding; multicellular organization; microtubules and microfilaments; cell differentiation; immunophysics; and DNA sequencing.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Structural Biology program, a subset of Biochemistry, focuses on the scientific study of the molecular and submolecular components of living systems. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding how these components are organized into functional units, such as cells and tissues, and the biochemical processes that occur within them. Students will explore various structures, including proteins, nucleic acids, and cellular components, using advanced methodologies.
In this program, students will gain essential knowledge in biology, chemistry, and physics, along with critical skills in scientific writing, research, and critical thinking. Coursework typically covers glycoproteins, molecular recognition, and DNA sequencing, equipping students with a strong foundation for advanced study or research in biological sciences.
Credentials awarded
What Structural Biology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree14 graduates / yr · 1 institution82%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship2 graduates / yr · 1 institution12%
- Master's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution5.9%
Graduates over time
Structural Biology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 13 |
| 2021 | 15 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 18 |
| 2024 | 14 |
| 2025 | 17 |
Top 2 institutions for Structural Biology, 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 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicBachelor's | 14 | 80% | — | $45,526 |
| 2 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicDoctoralMaster's | 3 | 75% | — | — |
* 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 2 states
Where Structural Biology graduates come from. Each state links to all Biochemistry programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 1 | 14 | Indiana University - Bloomington14 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 3 | University at Buffalo3 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1021, Biochemists and Biophysicists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Structural Biology program can pursue careers as biochemists and biophysicists, with a median wage of $103,650. The job outlook is favorable, with an expected growth rate of 5.8% and approximately 2,900 annual openings in related fields. A doctoral or professional degree is typically required for these positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 26.0207
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 |
Biological Scientists, All Other SOC 19-1029 | $98,920 | +1.2% Little or no change | ~4,800 | Bachelor's degree |
Microbiologists SOC 19-1022 | $87,990 | +4.1% About as fast as average | ~1,700 | Bachelor's 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 Structural Biology 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
- Molecular BiophysicsCIP 26.0206partial data207 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Radiation Biology/CIP 26.0209
Radiobiology partial data25 graduates / yr5 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 Bachelor's degree, a Master's degree, or a Doctor's degree in Structural Biology.
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 various biological science roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a 5.8% growth rate and about 2,900 openings annually.
What is the CIP code for Structural Biology?+
Structural Biology is CIP 26.0207 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 scientific study of submolecular and molecular components and assemblies of living systems and how they are organized into functional units such as cells and anatomic tissues. Includes instruction in glycoprotein, carbohydrate, protein, and nucleic acid structures and chemistry; cytoskeletal structure; nuclear and intracellular structures; molecular recognition; molecular chaperones; transcription and folding; multicellular organization; microtubules and microfilaments; cell differentiation; immunophysics; and DNA sequencing.
How many institutions offer Structural Biology programs?+
2 U.S. institutions reported Structural Biology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 2 states, awarding 17 credentials in the year. That is 0.1% of all Biochemistry graduates.
How much do Structural Biology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Biochemists and Biophysicists occupation, which Structural Biology 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 $45,526 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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