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What is Bioinformatics?

Bioinformatics is a branch of biology emphasizing the use of software applications to understand and process biological data.  The growth of bioinformatics degree holders mirrors a rapid expansion in this discipline punctuated by academic and technological advancements.  Being an interdisciplinary field of study within biology, bioinformatics leverages work from many fields.  Examples include areas of study such as: computer programming, mathematics, statistics, computer science, engineering, computational biology, cell biology, data mining, molecular biology, database management, and biochemistry.

Bioinformatics leverages technology via various computational approaches to analyze biological data (e.g., large scale genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic datasets) to investigate an array of living organisms.  Biological databases can include:

Gene Expression Metabolomic
DNA Chips Biomolecular Interactions
MicroArray Gene Expression
Nucleotide Sequence Protein Pathway
Protein Sequence Pharmacogenomics
Macromolecular Organs & Organisms
Large Scale Genomic

 

To understand the qualitative and quantitative biological data, students must have mastery of math, biology, chemistry, physics, and computer science.  These disciplines are brought together with the computational power of computing technology to make sense of living organisms and the communities in which they live.  Degrees in bioinformatics equips students for careers in industries such as biomedical, biotechnology, bioinformatics, and pharmaceutical.

Career Summary

MEDIAN SALARY

$80,060

PERCENT ABOVE NATIONAL
INCOME AVERAGE

53.70%

TOTAL SECTOR EMPLOYMENT

103,690

Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types

Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS

2024 Best Bioinformatics Degree

Harvard University located in Cambridge, Massachusetts is a private Ivy League research university that was established in 1636. The prestigious university is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the United States. It provides a variety of programs in different areas and it consists of ten academic faculties and Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study in Arts and Sciences. Moreover, faculty members consist of notable alumni and Nobel Prize Awardee, Pulitzer Prizes, and Academy awards. The university offers a degree in Biomedical Informatics with nine different research areas.  The Department of Bioinformatics offers a study in development of statistical methods for clinical trials and observational studies and genomics; also a program that adheres to study in computational biology, quantitative genomics and massive analysis data that will strengthen the knowledge of the students in the field of study. Another, it provides the students a rigorous training in statistical theory, method, and addresses real-world problems that will benefit them once they accomplish the program. 

Acceptance Rate

4.64

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Columbia University in the City of New York is one of the oldest institutions in the higher education of New York where it was established in 1754 as a private Ivy League research university. The university is always on top of the best universities in the world. Another, the university seeks an attraction on diverse, international faculty, and a student body that will support research and teaching to cure global issues. They aim to provide the highest level of education to convey good products for the betterment of the world. Moreover, it offers a variety of programs for undergraduate degree, master’s degree, Ph.D. and high school programs. The Biomedical Informatics degree program they offer is designed to provide studies in information in healthcare, biomedical, and medical education. Furthermore, the students will be more exposed in the field where they can explore techniques for assessing current information needs in providing medical care, research that seeks improvement in giving quality healthcare, and biomedical research. Since the program focuses on the theory and application it will really train the students for academic careers as researchers, teachers, and any related research professional positions in biomedical research. 

Acceptance Rate

5.45

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

University of Pennsylvania located at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is a private Ivy League research university that was established in 1740. The university has been offering various programs for undergraduate degree, graduate degree, and professional schools. As a matter of fact, it has four undergraduate, professional schools, and twelve graduates. The university holds a proud tradition of translating knowledge into social-minded action back to their founder Benjamin Franklin “ Well-done is better than well-said”. They live and believe that innovative work, inclusive policies and impactful engagement from faculty members will make the students the hope of the future. For their Biomedical Informatics program the students can earn a certificate from it. In which, the program is designed to provide working knowledge in Biomedical informatics. It provides exposure to the field of biomedical where they can build and collaborate with informaticians and health information technologies personnel. With these, the graduate will ensure on the top of the line in finding a job in the medical profession. 

Acceptance Rate

7.66

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

University of Chicago located at Chicago, Illinois is an urban research university that was established in 1890. The university is always on the top ranked as one of the best universities in the world. Another, it has been offering various programs for undergraduate degree, graduate degree, and interdisciplinary committees. The university empowers the individuality of the students to obtain conventional thinking in pursuit of original ideas. Through examining and testing the students they can assure that the next generation will be leaders in academia, nonprofits, marketing industry, and government. For their Biological Science Division, they provide Bioinformatics, Biology and Neuroscience that deals with the adaptations of pressure of natural selection. The program is designed to the students who want to pursue any medical related profession. The broad understanding in biological education will provide them an exceptional preparation for a career in the health profession. 

Acceptance Rate

6.17

Student to Faculty Ratio

5:1

Northwestern University located at Evanston, Illinois is a private research university that was established in 1851. The university was founded to serve the former Northwest Territory since the university is a founding member of the Big Ten Conference. Moreover, the university has been offering various programs in interdisciplinary education, undergraduate degree program, graduate degree program and research output. They are offering Biology Science that provides exciting studies about biology, human health, modern biological disciplines that attain knowledge and understanding to the student. The program prepares the graduates who want to pursue a biomedical profession and any related medical profession. Furthermore, students are more exposed in laboratory activities and will be guided by medical professionals to experience real-world training. 

Acceptance Rate

9.05

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

Vanderbilt University located at Nashville, Tennessee is a private research university that was established in 1873. The university has been offering various programs in undergraduate degree, graduate degree, and interdisciplinary programs. It was designed to shape the students to become excellent in their chosen field. Furthermore, their Biomedical Informatics offers in MS Degree which was designed to provide 40 formal course credits hours. Moreover, the concentration of the study is more on coursework and research that addresses a set of challenging questions in the biomedical field. The unique learning from it will be acquired by the students. 

Acceptance Rate

9.12

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Washington University in St. Louis located at Greater St. Louis, Missouri is a private research university that was established in 1853. The university was founded after the name of George Washington. The prestigious university consists of award winners such as 25 Nobel laureates in economics, medicine, chemistry, physiology, and physics that are affiliated with Washington university. Moreover, the university offers various programs for undergraduate degree programs, graduate degree programs, and professional schools. Another, Washington university is the perfect school where students can push their boundaries of what it means to acquire learning. In related to the Bioinformatics degree, the university offers Biomedical Engineering where it is an excellent for premedical preparation for any medical related profession.  Furthermore, the bachelor program is accredited by the Engineering Commission of ABET. 

Acceptance Rate

13.85

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Johns Hopkins University located in Baltimore, Maryland is a private research university that was established in 1876. The university has been offering various programs in different areas of study for undergraduate, graduate, and professional study. Another, the university was named after John Hopkins the American Entrepreneur and philanthropist. The university believed that sharing knowledge and discoveries through imparting it in an excellent teaching method, students will acquire the learning and skills they need. Moreover, for their biology major, the undergraduate degree provides a thorough grounding in bioinformatics that emphasizes the different aspects of the discipline. Also, the students will be exposed often to research and experimental tasks that will enhance their practical skills that will benefit them soon. 

Acceptance Rate

11.17

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

University of Southern California located in Los Angeles, California was established in 1880. It offers various programs in undergraduate, graduate, and professional study. Another, it is known as one of the leading private research universities that provides an extensive opportunity for interdisciplinary study. The programs allow the student to deepen their education and prepare their individuality for their future endeavor. Also, the university provides a great opportunity for them in any related career in the medical field or in industry. 

Acceptance Rate

11.42

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

University of California - Los Angeles located in Westwood LA is a public land-grant research university that was established in 1919. It offers various programs in different areas of study for undergraduate, graduate, and professional study. Another, it's been organized into 6 undergraduate universities, professional schools and 7 graduates and more. To further, the university offers 125 majors or undergraduate degrees including an academic concentration in Bioinformatics, also biology where students are taught to thoroughly understand life science and other major challenges of the discipline. 

Acceptance Rate

12.32

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

University of Michigan located in Ann Arbor, Michigan United States is a public university that was established in 1817. It offers various programs in different areas of study for undergraduate, graduate, and professional study. The university offers various degrees in bioinformatics related including biomedical engineering, biology, and more. Where, students are taught in an intensive learning, hands-on program and professional mentorship from the renowned faculty members and researchers in the university. Moreover, each course is designed to produce with quality education, industry ready and innovative.  

Acceptance Rate

22.91

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

University of North Carolina located at Chapel Hill, North Carolina that was established in 1789 is a public research university. The university offers various programs for undergraduate, graduate, and professional study. Another, it offers up to 70 courses of study and has been administered 13 separate professional schools. The university offers bioinformatics majors which provide different thorough learning in research areas such as Computational Genomics, Comparative genomics and other system biology that will benefit them in the future. Also, throughout the learning period the students are more exposed to research and practical training that will develop their critical skills and knowledge. 

Acceptance Rate

22.63

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Georgia Institute of Technology offers various programs for students. The university was founded in 1885 and for over 50 years it has successfully developed a small trade school. The small trade school was nationally recognized as a technological university. The university provides a quality education and practical training program, where the students are taught thoroughly to understand the bioinformatics leverage in various computational approaches just to analyze biological data, biomedical engineering, and bioinformatics.

Acceptance Rate

20.58

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

Boston University located at Boston Massachusetts is a private research university that was established in 1839. The university offers various programs for undergraduate, graduate, and professional study. For their bioinformatics, the program is designed to provide the students a highly motivated education in both medicine and research learning. The program expects to produce a multi-interdisciplinary nature of teaching to produce graduates that will help to solve global problems and issues. Moreover, the very purpose of the program is to provide opportunities while providing exposure and training in the medical and research field. 

Acceptance Rate

18.94

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

New York University located in New York 10003 is a private research university that was established in 1803. The university has been offering a variety of programs in different areas of study. They offer programs for undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools. Moreover, the institute offers an MS degree in Bioinformatics which provides 30 credit programs to refine skills in functional annotation, statistical analysis, genomics, proteomics, and algorithmic development. Also, the program is very flexible providing an active learning unique teaching method. 

Acceptance Rate

16.2

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

Brandeis University located in Waltham, Massachusetts is a private research university that was established in 1948. The university has been offering various programs in different areas of study. Another, the university has a strong liberal act that attracts student’s in geographically and economically diverse areas. Subsequently, for their bioinformatics degree program, they provide related programs that will integrate their knowledge and techniques about emphasizing research with total learning in functional annotation, genomics, algorithm and more. The program prepares the students to be ready if they pursue biomedical engineering, and any related profession. 

Acceptance Rate

29.9

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

University of California located in San Diego, California is a public land-grant research university that was established in 1960. The university offers various programs in different areas of study for undergraduate, graduate, and professional study. In their bioengineering they are offering a concentration program for bioinformatics. Where, the students are expected to acquire the quality education, learning, and practical training they provide for them. Also, in the interdisciplinary field the students play an important role. In addition. The program requires a basic foundation in mathematics, physics, biology, and chemistry. 

Acceptance Rate

31.48

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

University of California located in Irvine California is a public land-grant research university that was established in 1965. The university has been offering various programs in every different area of study. Also, they offer programs for undergraduate, graduates, and professional study. Moreover, the Bioinformatics program is designed to provide quality education and practical learning to have a thorough understanding about the interdisciplinary research in genomics and bioinformatics. This program will prepare the students once they graduate and pursue a related career in bioinformatics. 

Acceptance Rate

26.54

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

University of Georgia located in Athens, Georgia is a public land-grant research university that was established in 1785. The institution is one of the oldest public universities in the United States. It offers various programs in different areas of study for undergraduate, graduates, and professional study. I am related to bioinformatics, they are offering biology in different concentrations that will prepare the students if they pursue careers or study medical, pharmaceutical, bioinformatics, or work in the research industry. 

Acceptance Rate

45.3

Student to Faculty Ratio

17:1

Stevens Institute of Technology located in Hoboken, New Jersey is a private research university that was established in 1870. The university offers various programs in different areas of study for undergraduate, graduate, and professional study. Furthermore, the university has a unique curriculum designed that an undergraduate must experience this one-of-a-kind learning method. For their bioinformatics, they are offering related programs that may help the students enhance their knowledge and skills about bioinformatics study. Graduates are expected to acquire the components they needed to achieve success in their chosen field of profession. 

Acceptance Rate

39.96

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute located in Troy, New York is a private research university that was established in 1824. The university has been offering various programs in different areas of study. Also, they are offering programs for undergraduate, graduates, and professional study. The program provides the best of all fields learning in order to advance the cause of science and knowledge. It prepares the students in terms of developing their knowledge and skills once they pursue careers in medical field, pharmaceutical, and industry. 

Acceptance Rate

47.41

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

George Washington University located in Washington, D.C is a private research university that was established in 1821. The university offers various programs in different areas of study and is organized into 14 colleges and schools. Moreover, the institute offers a related program in bioinformatics study that will help the students once they pursue it. It prepares the students individuality,  knowledge and also it is designed for them to acquire skills through practical training. It has an advantage of the unique combination of resources in life science, functional annotation and other course work that may benefit them in their future endeavor in the medical profession or other related research profession. 

Acceptance Rate

40.84

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

North Carolina State University located in Raleigh, North Carolina is a public land-grant research university that was established in 1887. The institution offers various programs in different areas of study for undergraduate, graduates, and professional study. Another, the university was considered to be one of the oldest universities and largest in North Carolina. For their bioinformatics program, they offer a variety of concentrations related to the study of bioinformatics. These programs prepare the students as it is designed to provide professional training and rigorous medical, biological study, algorithm, and statistical analysis that will benefit soon. 

Acceptance Rate

45.13

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

University of Illinois located at Urbana and Champaign, Illinois is a public land-grant research university that was established in 1867. The prestigious university offers a variety of programs for undergraduate, graduate, and professional study. Moreover, the university also offers an MS degree in Bioinformatics: Information Science. Which provides a leading Masters degree study in aspects of information science in a greater depth, upgrading professional training, and enhancing career in different areas involving bioinformatics science.  Another, the school will maintain ongoing commitment to continue giving education through conferences, workshops, and course offering. 

Acceptance Rate

59.03

Student to Faculty Ratio

20:1

Baylor University located in Waco, Texas is a private university that was established in 1845. The university offers various programs for undergraduate, graduates, and professional study. For Bioinformatics related programs, the department of biology offers a variety of concentrations that provide opportunities to specialize students' interest. Another, the faculty consists of award-winning instructors and very passionate to help the students to teach to love science while developing them to become future successful scientists and leaders. The understanding of the study will really make the student ready to compete with the other biotechnologist, bioinformatics, and any related medical profession. 

Acceptance Rate

45.33

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

Top Degrees in Bioinformatics

Students considering a degree in bioinformatics will have a number of degree options to consider from a variety of schools.  In addition to the traditional undergraduate and graduate degree programs, students have the opportunity to entertain online degree options.  The health sciences mph and community health sciences are in place to ensure each satisfies general education thresholds plus credit hours required.

Distance learning alternatives effectively double the number of choices for students.  Learning online can have distinct benefits not found in classroom-based programs and may be worth considering.  For additional resources in online learning, simply visit our degree matching portal or online degree articles today.

Bioinformatics Bachelor Degrees

Bachelor degrees in bioinformatics are conferred as a Bachelor of Science (BS).  The bachelor’s degree will generally take undergraduates 4-years of full-time matriculation to finish.  BS degree programs will blend liberal arts education with core curricula.  General education classes will typically include history, creative writing, philosophy, psychology, and communications.

Curriculum found in the core program will vary by school.  However, similar principles will be covered by most colleges and institutions.  Core bioinformatics courses will generally include: organic chemistry, biology, biological databases, chemistry, advanced data structure, genetics, structural biochemistry, database management, metabolic biochemistry, cellular biology, algorithmic design, genomic technology, molecular biology,  molecular sequence analysis, neuroscience, statistics, and probability.

Bioinformatics Master Degrees

On-site or online master’s degrees in bioinformatics are rigorous graduate degrees that take 2-3 years of full time matriculation to complete.  Master’s degrees are conferred as a Master of Science (MS) in this field.  Core classes will generally include computer science, biostatistics, biomedical sciences, and computational biology.

Equipped with advanced biological knowledge and technical prowess, students will be able to tackle pressing problems through research and analysis.  Graduates with a master’s degree in bioinformatics will be ready to launch a career in a variety of fields or continue on to earn a PhD.

The most common areas of emphasis for bioinformatics graduate students include: systems biology, functional genomics, machine learning, scientific programming, complex trait genomics, next generation data sequencing, data reproducibility, probabilistic graphical models, statistical genetics, proteomics, mathematical modeling, databases, text mining, information retrieval, imaging, and computational neuroscience.

Bioinformatics Doctorate Degrees

The doctorate degree in bioinformatics is conferred as a PhD.  Doctoral degrees will take 3-5 years to complete depending on qualifications, pace, and time invested to complete a dissertation.  A PhD degree is designed to be research-intensive with various learning modalities.  Students will spend time learning via a combination of seminars, classroom lecture, labs, symposium, advanced research projects, mentored teaching, and through a board-approved dissertation.

Doctorate degrees offer students a unique platform to learn from top-tier professors in bioinformatics.  This combination of academic pedigree help advance bioinformatics through application and research.  PhD graduates will go on to work at research and development centers, government agencies, colleges, pharmaceutical companies, medical manufacturers, diagnostics laboratories, and other similar industries.

Careers in Bioinformatics

Earning a degree in bioinformatics is a highly specialized field of study. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor estimates the employment sector to be approximately thirty-nine thousand individuals. Career growth in this specialized arena is anticipated to outpace the mean growth rate for all jobs in the country. Most career opportunities will exist for graduate students holding a master's degree, PhD, or JD.

Bioinformatics Salary & Career Growth

Currently, the median annual income for a bioinformatic scientist is $76,690 which is $36.87 per hour. Income and employment growth in bioinformatics is anticipated to be higher than average. Job growth is slated at 9% which will add some four thousand new jobs in the next decade. Meanwhile, career paths such as biomedical engineers set to jump 23% and research scientists 19% during this same period.

Degree programs worth investigating further similar to bioinformatics include teaching, toxicology, virology, genomics, bioinformatics, post-secondary teacher, radiobiology, computer science, neuroanatomy, pharmacology, biomedical engineering, medical scientist, and microbiology.

Featured: NYU Tandon & Harvard Extension School

We feature both NYU and Harvard for their top-flight bioinformatics degree programs. Both online and on campus programs provide graduate students with rigorous coursework and curriculum that would engage you each semester through degree completion. Visit both to learn more about each successful science program today. As a bonus: we are also recommending the VCU graduate school which includes the industry leading VCU graduate bulletin. The VCU life sciences department has been found to be a top ranked program in the conversation with both Harvard Extension School and NYU Tandon for this area of study.

List of Bioinformatic Science Associations

  • American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA)
  • National Institutes of Health Informatics (NIHI)
  • American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA)
  • American Society of Health Informatics Managers (ASHIM)
  • Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
  • The International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA)
  • The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)

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