by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 52 U.S. colleges awarded 303 degrees and certificates in Biophysics. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 50% of graduates. College Factual ranks 8 schools in its 2027 Best Biophysics Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $39,854 one year after completing, rising to $68,946 after four years.
Studying Biophysics covers Biophysics. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Physics Principles To The Scientific Study Of The Mechanisms Of Biological Processes And Assemblies At All Levels Of Complexity. Includes Instruction In Research Methods And Equipment Operation And Applications To Subjects Such As Bioenergetics, Biophysical Theory And Modeling, Electrophysics, Membrane Biology, Channels, Receptors And Transporters, Contractility And Muscle Function, Protein Shaping And Folding, Molecular And Supramolecular Structures And Assemblies, And Computational Science.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, biophysics is a popular field of study, with 303 degrees awarded annually. 52 colleges award biophysics degrees, an average of 6 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 25.
By level, the 303 awards include 151 bachelor’s degrees, 50 master’s degrees and 102 doctorates.
Women earned 46% of biophysics degrees and certificates in the latest year (139 of 303). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (122) and Asian (49), and international students earned 66.
College Factual ranks 8 schools in its 2027 Best Biophysics Schools ranking, including 5 for bachelor’s degrees and 1 for doctorates. It also ranks biophysics schools within 7 states. In all, 52 colleges offer biophysics programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Biophysics Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common biophysics credential is the bachelor’s degree: 151 of the 303 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to biophysics call most for Reading Comprehension, Writing and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Biology and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a biophysics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 151 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 50 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 102 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to biophysics, at 35.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 18.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 17.4% |
| Master’s degree | 12.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.7% |
| Some college courses | 3.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.9% |
| First professional degree | 0.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to Biophysics, with an average median salary of $113,869; the strongest outlook belongs to Clinical Research Coordinators, at 10.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Research Coordinator, Clinical Project Manager, Clinical Trials Manager and Clinical Data Coordinator.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to biophysics, at 542,888.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | 95,666 | 3.7% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Biophysics graduates earn a median $39,854 one year after completing their program, $68,946 after four years and $71,448 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $39,854 |
| 4 years | $68,946 |
| 5 years | $71,448 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to biophysics is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $107,979 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $41,048 |
Biophysics has 8 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 14,426 degrees a year; the largest are Biochemistry (10,285), Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (1,633) and Molecular Biology (1,409). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biochemistry | 10,285 |
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 1,633 |
| Molecular Biology | 1,409 |
| Molecular Biochemistry | 514 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Other | 336 |
| Molecular Biophysics | 207 |
| Radiation Biology/Radiobiology | 25 |
| Structural Biology | 17 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
