Biophysics: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary field that harnesses the principles of physics to explore the fundamental mechanisms underlying biological systems across all scales of complexity. This program equips students with the analytical and technical skills needed to investigate life at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels through quantitative, experimental, and computational approaches.
- Bioenergetics: The study of energy transformations within biological systems, including metabolic pathways and the thermodynamic principles governing cellular function.
- Biophysical theory and modeling: The development and application of mathematical and physical models to describe and predict the behavior of biological systems and processes.
- Electrophysics: The investigation of electrical phenomena in biological tissues and cells, particularly in neurons and muscle cells, and their role in signal transmission.
- Membrane biology: The analysis of cellular membrane structure, dynamics, and function, including lipid bilayer properties and their influence on cellular interactions.
- Ion channels, receptors, and transporters: The study of protein complexes that regulate the movement of ions and molecules across cell membranes, essential for cellular communication and homeostasis.
- Contractility and muscle function: The physical mechanisms that drive muscle contraction, including the role of actin, myosin, and calcium signaling at the molecular level.
- Protein folding and conformational dynamics: The exploration of how proteins achieve and maintain their functional three-dimensional structures, and the implications of misfolding in disease.
- Molecular and supramolecular assemblies: The structural and functional analysis of complex biological systems formed by the organization of multiple molecules into higher-order structures.
- Computational science: The use of algorithms, simulations, and data-driven methods to model biological systems and interpret experimental data with high precision.
Biophysics Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Biophysics Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Biophysics degrees, including Natural Sciences Managers, Biochemists and Biophysicists and Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 344,940 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers 11-9121 | $161,180 | $79,830 - $239,200 | 100,870 | $77.49 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists 19-1021 | $103,650 | $64,890 - $168,900 | 34,520 | $49.83 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists 19-1042 | $100,590 | $61,860 - $168,210 | 156,300 | $48.36 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1042 | $83,460 | $50,760 - $169,560 | 53,250 | N/A |
Biophysics Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $74,055 in Vermont to $147,860 in California—a 100% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 344,940 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Biophysics by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 55 institutions offering Biophysics programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Biophysics is found at University of Pennsylvania (Penn) (36 graduates), University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles (22 graduates), University of Chicago (UChicago) (22 graduates), University of Wisconsin-Madison (21 graduates), and Johns Hopkins University (JHU) (19 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 345 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
36 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
22 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| University of Chicago (UChicago) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
22 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | uchicago.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
21 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
19 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
19 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Rockhurst University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Kansas City, Missouri | Private | rockhurst.edu |
| Harvard University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
9 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Cornell University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| University of California (UCB) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Berkeley, California | Public | berkeley.edu |
| Stanford University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
| University of California (UCSF) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | San Francisco, California | Public | ucsf.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Bachelor's
|
6 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| Duke University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| Texas Christian University (TCU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Fort Worth, Texas | Private | tcu.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| Emory University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| SUNY College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Geneseo, New York | Public | geneseo.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Notre Dame (ND) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Notre Dame, Indiana | Private | nd.edu |
| Brandeis University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Waltham, Massachusetts | Private | brandeis.edu |
| Oakland University (OU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Public | oakland.edu |
| Wake Forest University (WFC) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Private | wfu.edu |
| Bucknell University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Lewisburg, Pennsylvania | Private | bucknell.edu |
| Brown University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | brown.edu |
| Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
2 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | iit.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| St Lawrence University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Canton, New York | Private | stlawu.edu |
| Xavier University (XU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Private | xavier.edu |
| Swarthmore College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania | Private | swarthmore.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
2 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | uthscsa.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Franklin College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Franklin, Indiana | Private | franklincollege.edu |
| University of Southern Indiana (USI) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Evansville, Indiana | Public | usi.edu |
| Northwestern College (NWC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Orange City, Iowa | Private | nwciowa.edu |
| Andrews University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Berrien Springs, Michigan | Private | andrews.edu |
| Rowan University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| Princeton University |
Master's
|
1 | Princeton, New Jersey | Private | princeton.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| Southern Adventist University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Collegedale, Tennessee | Private | southern.edu |
| Marquette University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | marquette.edu |
| Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | mcw.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Biophysics programs
How much can I earn with a Biophysics degree?
Salaries for Biophysics graduates vary by role and location. Natural Sciences Managers earn a median of $161,180 annually, while Biochemists and Biophysicists earn around $103,650. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $147,860 compared to $74,055 in Vermont. Approximately 344,940 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Biophysics programs?
Currently 55 accredited institutions offer Biophysics degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Pennsylvania (Penn) (36 graduates), University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles (22 graduates), and University of Chicago (UChicago) (22 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Biophysics growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 273 in 2010 to a peak of 502 in 2020, before declining slightly to 345 in 2023-24. This represents a 26% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Biophysics degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Natural Sciences Managers, Biochemists and Biophysicists, and Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists. Related occupations employ approximately 344,940 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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