[Bioinformatics](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/biomathematics-bioinformatics-computational-biology/bioinformatics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong bioinformatics education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for bioinformatics students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in bioinformatics, balancing cost against outcomes.
University Of California San Diego earned the #1 spot for value among bioinformatics schools in California. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Typical student debt for bioinformatics graduates is $19,724. Early-career bioinformatics graduates make about $76,592. That is a strong return on a $19,724 median debt. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Los Angeles earned it the #2 place for bioinformatics. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete the bioinformatics program here. Bioinformatics graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $63,833 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,097 median debt. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Diego State University earned it the #3 place for bioinformatics. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,728, with out-of-state students paying around $21,328. Students borrow a median of $16,417 to complete the bioinformatics program here. Early-career bioinformatics graduates make about $51,162. Set against $16,417 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 36%.
Students looking for strong value in bioinformatics will find it at University Of California Santa Cruz, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,035, with out-of-state students paying around $46,923. Typical student debt for bioinformatics graduates is $18,559. Bioinformatics graduates of University Of California Santa Cruz earn a median of $40,920 early in their careers. Set against $18,559 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Southern California earned it the #5 place for bioinformatics. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Bioinformatics graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. Bioinformatics graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $58,044 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
