by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 91 U.S. colleges awarded 1,682 degrees and certificates in Biostatistics. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 79% of graduates. College Factual ranks 38 schools in its 2027 Best Biostatistics Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $82,809 one year after completing, rising to $114,155 after four years.
A major in Biostatistics covers Biostatistics. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Descriptive And Inferential Statistics To Biomedical Research And Clinical, Public Health, And Industrial Issues Related To Human Populations. Includes Instruction In Mathematical Statistics, Modeling, Clinical Trials Methodology, Disease And Survival Analysis, Longitudinal Analysis, Missing Data Analysis, Spatial Analysis, Computer Tomography, Biostatistics Consulting, And Applications To Such Topics As Genetics, Oncology, Pharmacokinetics, Physiology, Neurobiology, And Biophysics.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, biostatistics is a widely-pursued major, with 1,682 degrees awarded annually. 91 colleges award biostatistics degrees, an average of 18 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 196.
By level, the 1,682 awards include 63 bachelor’s degrees, 1,334 master’s degrees and 285 doctorates.
Women earned 59% of biostatistics degrees and certificates in the latest year (994 of 1,682). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (348) and Asian (209), and international students earned 955.
College Factual ranks 38 schools in its 2027 Best Biostatistics Schools ranking, including 6 for bachelor’s degrees, 32 for master’s degrees and 8 for doctorates. It also ranks biostatistics schools within 21 states. In all, 91 colleges offer biostatistics programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Biostatistics Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common biostatistics credential is the master’s degree: 1,334 of the 1,682 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to biostatistics call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Biology and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a biostatistics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 63 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,334 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 285 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to biostatistics, at 31.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 31.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 25.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 16.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 15.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.0% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
14 occupations are related to Biostatistics, with an average median salary of $96,302; the strongest outlook belongs to Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 14.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Assistant Professor, Instructor, Professor and University Faculty Member.
The occupation related to biostatistics with the most projected jobs is Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,335,407.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Statisticians | 307,132 | 6.6% |
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
Biostatistics graduates earn a median $82,809 one year after completing their program, $114,155 after four years and $123,442 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $82,809 |
| 4 years | $114,155 |
| 5 years | $123,442 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to biostatistics 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 |
| Statisticians | $130,349 |
| Biostatisticians | $121,594 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
Biostatistics has 4 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 2,546 degrees a year; the largest are Bioinformatics (1,616), Computational Biology (407) and Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Other (312). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Bioinformatics | 1,616 |
| Computational Biology | 407 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Other | 312 |
| Biometry/Biometrics | 211 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
