Biostatistics: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Biostatistics is a rigorous, data-driven discipline that applies advanced statistical methods to solve complex problems in biomedical science, public health, and healthcare innovation. This field equips professionals with the analytical tools to design robust studies, interpret clinical data, and support evidence-based decision-making across diverse human health contexts.
- Mathematical Statistics: Foundations in probability theory, distribution models, and statistical inference to build a strong quantitative base for data analysis.
- Statistical Modeling: Development and application of predictive and explanatory models to simulate biological processes and assess treatment effects.
- Clinical Trials Methodology: Principles for designing, analyzing, and evaluating controlled experiments in medical research to ensure validity and ethical standards.
- Disease and Survival Analysis: Techniques to estimate disease progression, treatment outcomes, and time-to-event data in patient populations.
- Longitudinal Analysis: Methods for analyzing data collected over time to understand trends, individual trajectories, and dynamic health changes.
- Missing Data Analysis: Advanced approaches to handle incomplete datasets, preserving data integrity and reducing bias in research findings.
- Spatial Analysis: Use of geographic information systems and spatial statistics to explore disease patterns and health disparities across regions.
- Computer Tomography (CT) Data Integration: Application of statistical techniques to interpret and validate imaging data in diagnostic and research settings.
- Biostatistics Consulting: Training in communicating statistical insights to non-technical stakeholders, including researchers, clinicians, and regulatory bodies.
- Applied Domains: Real-world application across genetics, oncology, pharmacokinetics, physiology, neurobiology, and biophysics to address pressing challenges in human health and biomedical discovery.
Biostatistics Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Biostatistics Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Biostatistics degrees, including Natural Sciences Managers, Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary and Statisticians. 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 701,410 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 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1071 | $105,620 | $51,760 - $239,200 | 229,720 | N/A |
| Statisticians 15-2041 | $103,300 | $60,390 - $170,700 | 29,800 | $49.66 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists 19-1042 | $100,590 | $61,860 - $168,210 | 156,300 | $48.36 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other 19-1029 | $93,330 | $54,500 - $159,780 | 59,710 | $44.87 |
| Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1022 | $79,350 | $48,150 - $161,020 | 48,820 | N/A |
| Biological Technicians 19-4021 | $52,000 | $38,060 - $81,990 | 76,190 | $25.00 |
Biostatistics Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $70,588 in Hawaii to $124,766 in California—a 77% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 701,410 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 Biostatistics by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 91 institutions offering Biostatistics 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 Biostatistics is found at Columbia University in the City of New York (163 graduates), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill (120 graduates), University of Michigan (U‑M), Ann Arbor (107 graduates), New York University (NYU) (107 graduates), and Duke University (81 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,546 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
163 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
120 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Public | unc.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
107 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
|
107 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Duke University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
81 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
66 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Emory University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
59 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| Harvard University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
50 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
47 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
34 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
31 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
30 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
29 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Master's
|
28 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| Yale University |
Master's
|
27 | New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
27 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Brown University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | brown.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
24 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| University of California (UCB) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
22 | Berkeley, California | Public | berkeley.edu |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
22 | Houston, Texas | Public | uth.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
16 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Georgetown University (GU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | georgetown.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Saint Louis University (SLU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | slu.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
13 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
13 | Portland, Oregon | Public | ohsu.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
13 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| Drexel University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
13 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
12 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
12 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
11 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unmc.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
11 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ucdenver.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Master's
|
10 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
10 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Master's
|
9 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
9 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Master's
|
9 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OUHSC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
9 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Public | ouhsc.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Master's
|
8 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
8 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPR‑MSC) |
Master's
|
8 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | rcm.upr.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| California State University (CSUEB) |
Master's
|
6 | Hayward, California | Public | csueastbay.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Master's
|
6 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Master's
|
5 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| Temple University |
Master's
|
5 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| East Tennessee State University (ETSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Johnson City, Tennessee | Public | etsu.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | mcw.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU–I) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Rexburg, Idaho | Private | byui.edu |
| Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC-NO) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Public | lsuhsc.edu |
| University of Memphis (UofM) |
Master's
|
4 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
| University of North Texas Health Science Center |
Master's
|
4 | Fort Worth, Texas | Public | unthsc.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Master's
|
4 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
| Augusta University (AU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Augusta, Georgia | Public | augusta.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Emmanuel College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | emmanuel.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Other Award
|
3 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| Icahn School of Medicine (ISMMS) |
Master's
|
3 | New York, New York | Private | icahn.mssm.edu |
| University at Albany (UAlbany) |
Master's
|
3 | Albany, New York | Public | albany.edu |
| Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | web.musc.edu |
| Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Dallas, Texas | Private | smu.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Master's
|
3 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| George Mason University |
Master's
|
3 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | uthsc.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Master's
|
2 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Master's
|
2 | University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Master's
|
2 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Master's
|
2 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Claremont Graduate University (CGU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Claremont, California | Private | cgu.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Master's
|
1 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) |
Master's
|
1 | Newark, New Jersey | Public | njit.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| Saint Joseph's University (SJU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | sju.edu |
| University of Scranton |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Scranton, Pennsylvania | Private | scranton.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Master's
|
1 | Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Master's
|
1 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Biostatistics programs
How much can I earn with a Biostatistics degree?
Salaries for Biostatistics graduates vary by role and location. Natural Sciences Managers earn a median of $161,180 annually, while Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $105,620. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $124,766 compared to $70,588 in Hawaii. Approximately 701,410 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 Biostatistics programs?
Currently 91 accredited institutions offer Biostatistics degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Columbia University in the City of New York (163 graduates), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill (120 graduates), and University of Michigan (U‑M), Ann Arbor (107 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 Biostatistics growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 480 in 2010 to 1,546 in 2023-24. This represents a 222% 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 Biostatistics degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Natural Sciences Managers, Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, and Statisticians. Related occupations employ approximately 701,410 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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