Best institutions to study Bioinformatics
A program that focuses on the application of computer-based technologies and services to biological, biomedical, and biotechnology research.
101 U.S. institutions graduated 1,606 Bioinformatics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 26.1103, a specialization of Biomathematics (CIP 26.11), and leads most directly to the Data Scientists occupation (BLS SOC 15-2051).
About Bioinformatics programs
A program that focuses on the application of computer-based technologies and services to biological, biomedical, and biotechnology research. Includes instruction in algorithms, network architecture, principles of software design, human interface design, usability studies, search strategies, database management and data mining, digital image processing, computer graphics and animation, CAD, computer programming, and applications to experimental design and analysis and to specific quantitative, modeling, and analytical studies in the various biological specializations.
See also: 51.2706 - Medical Informatics., 11.0104 - Informatics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Bioinformatics program, a specialization within Biomathematics, focuses on applying computer-based technologies to biological and biomedical research. This interdisciplinary field merges biology, computer science, and mathematics, making it ideal for students interested in leveraging technology to solve complex biological problems. Graduates are equipped to analyze and interpret biological data, contributing to advancements in healthcare and biotechnology.
Students in the Bioinformatics program will learn essential skills in algorithms, software design, database management, and data mining. Coursework typically covers statistical analysis, digital image processing, and experimental design, providing a solid foundation for applying computational techniques to biological research.
Credentials awarded
What Bioinformatics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree956 graduates / yr · 62 institutions60%
- Bachelor's degree387 graduates / yr · 32 institutions24%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship180 graduates / yr · 29 institutions11%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate73 graduates / yr · 18 institutions4.5%
- Post-master's certificate6 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.4%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year3 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.2%
- Associate's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Bioinformatics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 614 |
| 2013 | 618 |
| 2014 | 572 |
| 2015 | 584 |
| 2016 | 683 |
| 2017 | 761 |
| 2018 | 883 |
| 2019 | 949 |
| 2020 | 1,093 |
| 2021 | 1,148 |
| 2022 | 1,130 |
| 2023 | 1,236 |
| 2024 | 1,326 |
| 2025 | 1,606 |
Top 50 institutions for Bioinformatics, 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 California - San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 132 | 86% | — | $76,592 |
| 2 | Northeastern University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 119 | 91% | $18,925 | — |
| 3 | University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 84 | 75% | — | — |
| 4 | Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus Atlanta, GAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 70 | 94% | — | — |
| 5 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 54 | 89% | $21,956 | — |
| 6 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 54 | 93% | — | — |
| 7 | Brandeis University Waltham, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 48 | 86% | $25,074 | — |
| 8 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NCPublicMaster'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 45 | 69% | — | — |
| 9 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 44 | 88% | $29,023 | — |
| 10 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 37 | 63% | — | — |
| 11 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 34 | 68% | — | — |
| 12 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 34 | 81% | $13,712 | $68,084 |
| 13 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, INPublicMaster's | 32 | 54% | — | — |
| 14 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 29 | 96% | $13,333 | — |
| 15 | Georgetown University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 28 | 95% | $22,242 | — |
| 16 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, MIPublicMaster's | 28 | 67% | — | — |
| 17 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZPublicMaster's | 28 | 0% | — | — |
| 18 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster'sDoctoral | 25 | 96% | $15,315 | — |
| 19 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 25 | 94% | $23,803 | — |
| 20 | University of Delaware Newark, DEPublicMaster's | 24 | 81% | — | — |
| 21 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 24 | 73% | $33,454 | — |
| 22 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 24 | 80% | $24,886 | — |
| 23 | University of South Florida Tampa, FLPublicMaster's | 23 | 77% | — | — |
| 24 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 22 | 94% | $14,126 | — |
| 25 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 21 | 93% | — | — |
| 26 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 21 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 27 | CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, NYPublicBachelor's | 21 | 21% | — | $31,441 |
| 28 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TXPublicMaster's | 18 | 76% | — | — |
| 29 | George Washington University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 17 | 84% | $29,789 | — |
| 30 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 17 | 70% | $28,133 | — |
| 31 | University of Maryland - Baltimore County Baltimore, MDPublicBachelor's | 16 | 70% | — | — |
| 32 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicMaster'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 16 | 90% | — | — |
| 33 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicBachelor's | 15 | 68% | — | — |
| 34 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 15 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 35 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicPost-degree cert.DoctoralMaster's | 15 | 90% | — | — |
| 36 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJPublicMaster'sBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 15 | 67% | — | — |
| 37 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 15 | 97% | $22,055 | — |
| 38 | University of Missouri - Kansas City Kansas City, MOPublicMaster's | 14 | 55% | — | — |
| 39 | San Diego State University San Diego, CAPublicMaster's | 13 | 76% | — | — |
| 40 | Juniata College Huntingdon, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 13 | 74% | $24,867 | — |
| 41 | Temple University Philadelphia, PAPublicMaster'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 13 | 75% | — | — |
| 42 | The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TXPublicMaster's | 12 | 50% | — | — |
| 43 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicDoctoral | 9 | 86% | — | — |
| 44 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 9 | 85% | — | — |
| 45 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicPost-degree cert. | 9 | 84% | — | — |
| 46 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, ARPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 8 | 42% | — | — |
| 47 | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock, ARPublicPost-degree cert.Master's | 8 | — | — | — |
| 48 | University of California - Riverside Riverside, CAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 8 | 76% | — | — |
| 49 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NCPublicDoctoralMaster's | 8 | 91% | — | — |
| 50 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 8 | 94% | $14,854 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Biomathematics field (CIP 26.11) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 35 states
Where Bioinformatics graduates come from. Each state links to all Biomathematics programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 15-2051, Data Scientists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Bioinformatics program can pursue careers as Data Scientists, Biological Technicians, and Computer and Information Research Scientists. With an expected job growth rate of 33.5% and approximately 23,400 annual openings, this field offers a promising outlook. The median wage for professionals in this area is $112,590, typically requiring at least a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 26.1103
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Data Scientistsprimary SOC 15-2051 | $120,230 | +33.5% Much faster than average | ~23,400 | Bachelor's degree |
Computer Occupations, All Other SOC 15-1299 | $116,580 | +8.2% Much faster than average | ~31,300 | Bachelor's degree |
Biological Technicians SOC 19-4021 | $57,510 | +3.5% About as fast as average | ~9,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Computer and Information Research Scientists SOC 15-1221 | $140,300 | +19.7% Much faster than average | ~3,200 | Master's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Bioinformatics programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
What graduates do on the job
- Analyze, manipulate, or process large sets of data using statistical software.
- Apply feature selection algorithms to models predicting outcomes of interest, such as sales, attrition, and healthcare use.
- Apply sampling techniques to determine groups to be surveyed or use complete enumeration methods.
- Clean and manipulate raw data using statistical software.
- Compare models using statistical performance metrics, such as loss functions or proportion of explained variance.
- Create graphs, charts, or other visualizations to convey the results of data analysis using specialized software.
Tools and technology used
Other Biomathematics specializations
The 4 other 6-digit CIP codes under Biomathematics (CIP 26.11).
Common questions
What is Bioinformatics?+
Bioinformatics is a program that applies computer-based technologies to biological and biomedical research.
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, Doctor's degree, or a Postbaccalaureate certificate in Bioinformatics.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Bioinformatics?+
Graduates can work as Data Scientists, Biological Technicians, or Computer and Information Research Scientists.
What is the job outlook for Bioinformatics graduates?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 33.5% and 23,400 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Bioinformatics?+
Bioinformatics is CIP 26.1103 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Biomathematics (CIP 26.11). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the application of computer-based technologies and services to biological, biomedical, and biotechnology research. Includes instruction in algorithms, network architecture, principles of software design, human interface design, usability studies, search strategies, database management and data mining, digital image processing, computer graphics and animation, CAD, computer programming, and applications to experimental design and analysis and to specific quantitative, modeling, and analytical studies in the various biological specializations.
How many institutions offer Bioinformatics programs?+
101 U.S. institutions reported Bioinformatics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 35 states, awarding 1,606 credentials in the year. That is 38.4% of all Biomathematics graduates.
How much do Bioinformatics graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Data Scientists occupation, which Bioinformatics most directly leads to, pays a median of $120,230 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Biomathematics field report median earnings of $68,084 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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