Bioinformatics: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that integrates computational methods with biological sciences to analyze and interpret complex biological data. It empowers researchers to uncover patterns in genetic sequences, protein structures, and cellular systems through advanced data modeling and algorithmic analysis.
- Algorithms and Computational Methods: Study of efficient procedures for solving biological problems, such as sequence alignment and gene prediction, using mathematical and logical frameworks.
- Database Management and Data Mining: Techniques for organizing, retrieving, and extracting meaningful insights from large-scale biological datasets, including genomic and proteomic repositories.
- Software Design and Programming: Development of robust, scalable software tools tailored for biological data processing, with emphasis on code efficiency, modularity, and reproducibility.
- Human-Computer Interaction and Usability: Design of intuitive interfaces that support biologists and researchers in navigating complex data environments with minimal technical barriers.
- Digital Image and Signal Processing: Application of computational techniques to analyze microscopy images, medical scans, and other biological visual data for structural and functional insights.
- Computer Graphics and Visualization: Creation of dynamic, interactive models of biological systems to enhance understanding of molecular interactions and cellular processes.
- Quantitative Modeling and Simulation: Use of mathematical and statistical models to simulate biological phenomena, from gene regulatory networks to population dynamics.
- Experimental Design and Analysis: Integration of computational strategies into research planning and data interpretation to improve accuracy, reproducibility, and hypothesis testing in biological studies.
Bioinformatics Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Bioinformatics Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Bioinformatics degrees, including Computer and Information Research Scientists, Data Scientists and Computer Occupations, All Other. 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 787,490 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Research Scientists 15-1221 | $140,910 | $80,670 - $232,120 | 38,480 | $67.74 |
| Data Scientists 15-2051 | $112,590 | $63,650 - $194,410 | 233,440 | $54.13 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other 15-1299 | $108,970 | $52,650 - $176,800 | 439,380 | $52.39 |
| Biological Technicians 19-4021 | $52,000 | $38,060 - $81,990 | 76,190 | $25.00 |
Bioinformatics Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $71,473 in North Dakota to $141,308 in Washington—a 98% difference. The highest-paying states include Washington, New Mexico, and New York. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 787,490 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 Bioinformatics by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 97 institutions offering Bioinformatics 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 Bioinformatics is found at University of California (UCSD), San Diego (120 graduates), Northeastern University (NU) (84 graduates), University of California (UCSC), Santa Cruz (71 graduates), Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) (55 graduates), and Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Main Campus (48 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,336 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 California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
120 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Master's
|
84 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| University of California (UCSC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
71 | Santa Cruz, California | Public | ucsc.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
55 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
48 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gatech.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
45 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
44 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
|
39 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
32 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| CUNY New York City College of Technology (NYCCT) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | citytech.cuny.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
31 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Master's
|
29 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Brandeis University |
Master's
|
25 | Waltham, Massachusetts | Private | brandeis.edu |
| University of Chicago (UChicago) |
Master's
|
24 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | uchicago.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
23 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
22 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Master's
|
22 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
21 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
|
20 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
20 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Master's
|
20 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| University of Missouri (UMKC) |
Master's
|
19 | Kansas City, Missouri | Public | umkc.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Master's
|
18 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
|
17 | Richardson, Texas | Public | utdallas.edu |
| Saint Louis University (SLU) |
Master's
|
16 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | slu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
16 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Master's
|
15 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMBC) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umbc.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Master's
|
15 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| Georgetown University (GU) |
Master's
|
13 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | georgetown.edu |
| Harvard University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
12 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
11 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
11 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Master's
|
10 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| Rowan University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
10 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| Ramapo College of New Jersey |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Mahwah, New Jersey | Public | ramapo.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
9 | Little Rock, Arkansas | Public | uams.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
9 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Master's
|
9 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| Hood College |
Master's
|
9 | Frederick, Maryland | Private | hood.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| University of Maine (UMaine) |
Master's
|
8 | Orono, Maine | Public | umaine.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Icahn School of Medicine (ISMMS) |
Master's
|
7 | New York, New York | Private | icahn.mssm.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Public | unc.edu |
| Juniata College |
Master's
|
7 | Huntingdon, Pennsylvania | Private | juniata.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Master's
|
6 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Bowie State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Bowie, Maryland | Public | bowiestate.edu |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Troy, New York | Private | rpi.edu |
| Baylor University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Waco, Texas | Private | baylor.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTEP) |
Master's
|
6 | El Paso, Texas | Public | utep.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
5 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| Temple University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| George Mason University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
5 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| University of Arkansas (UA Little Rock) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Little Rock, Arkansas | Public | ualr.edu |
| California State University (CSUSB) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | San Bernardino, California | Public | csusb.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Master's
|
4 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) |
Master's
|
4 | Newark, New Jersey | Public | njit.edu |
| New Mexico State University (NMSU) |
Master's
|
4 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | nmsu.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
4 | Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Portland, Oregon | Public | ohsu.edu |
| Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) |
Master's
|
3 | Itta Bena, Mississippi | Public | mvsu.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNO) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unomaha.edu |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unmc.edu |
| Morgan State University (MSU) |
Master's
|
2 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | morgan.edu |
| Bowling Green State University (BGSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Public | bgsu.edu |
| Saint Joseph's University (SJU) |
Master's
|
2 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | sju.edu |
| Utah Tech University (UT) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
2 | Saint George, Utah | Public | utahtech.edu |
| Utah Valley University (UVU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Orem, Utah | Public | uvu.edu |
| Marquette University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
2 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | marquette.edu |
| University of New Haven (UNH) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | West Haven, Connecticut | Private | newhaven.edu |
| Lewis-Clark State College (LC State) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Lewiston, Idaho | Public | lcsc.edu |
| Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | iit.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | xula.edu |
| Montgomery College (MC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Rockville, Maryland | Public | montgomerycollege.edu |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Norton, Massachusetts | Private | wheatoncollege.edu |
| University of Central Missouri (UCM) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Warrensburg, Missouri | Public | ucmo.edu |
| Davidson College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Davidson, North Carolina | Private | davidson.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| Pacific University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Forest Grove, Oregon | Private | pacificu.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Master's
|
1 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Saint Edward's University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Austin, Texas | Private | stedwards.edu |
| Whitworth University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Spokane, Washington | Private | whitworth.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Bioinformatics programs
How much can I earn with a Bioinformatics degree?
Salaries for Bioinformatics graduates vary by role and location. Computer and Information Research Scientists earn a median of $140,910 annually, while Data Scientists earn around $112,590. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Washington average $141,308 compared to $71,473 in North Dakota. Approximately 787,490 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 Bioinformatics programs?
Currently 97 accredited institutions offer Bioinformatics degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of California (UCSD), San Diego (120 graduates), Northeastern University (NU) (84 graduates), and University of California (UCSC), Santa Cruz (71 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 Bioinformatics growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 455 in 2010 to 1,336 in 2023-24. This represents a 194% 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 Bioinformatics degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Computer and Information Research Scientists, Data Scientists, and Computer Occupations, All Other. Related occupations employ approximately 787,490 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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