by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 29 U.S. colleges awarded 407 degrees and certificates in Computational Biology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 46% of graduates. College Factual ranks 10 schools in its 2027 Best Computational Biology 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.
Studying Computational Biology involves the study of Computational Biology. A Program That Focuses On Computational Theoretical Approaches To Understanding Biological Systems, Including Computational Models Of Biological Processes, Computational Management Of Large-Scale Projects, Database Development And Data-Algorithm Development, And High-Performance Computing, As Well As Statistical And Mathematical Analyses. Examples: [Computational And Systems Biology].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., computational biology is a popular field of study, with 407 degrees awarded annually. 29 colleges award computational biology degrees, an average of 14 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 65.
By level, the 407 awards include 186 bachelor’s degrees, 104 master’s degrees and 117 doctorates.
Women earned 49% of computational biology degrees and certificates in the latest year (200 of 407). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (124) and Asian (111), and international students earned 95.
College Factual ranks 10 schools in its 2027 Best Computational Biology Schools ranking, including 5 for bachelor’s degrees, 4 for master’s degrees and 4 for doctorates. It also ranks computational biology schools within 5 states. In all, 29 colleges offer computational biology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Computational Biology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common computational biology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 186 of the 407 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to computational biology call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Computers and Electronics, English Language and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Comprehension and Oral Expression.
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How long a computational biology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 186 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 104 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 117 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to computational biology, at 46.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 46.1% |
| Master’s degree | 13.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 9.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 8.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 4.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.2% |
| Some college courses | 3.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
25 occupations are related to Computational Biology, with an average median salary of $106,529; the strongest outlook belongs to Biological Technicians, at 12.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Systems Engineer, Data Analyst, Research Scientist and Security Engineer.
The occupation related to computational biology with the most projected jobs is Business Intelligence Analysts, at 585,851.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 585,851 | 1.3% |
| Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | 576,059 | -1.9% |
| Information Security Engineers | 575,902 | -3.8% |
| Blockchain Engineers | 556,747 | 5.1% |
| Information Technology Project Managers | 543,383 | -3.4% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians | 530,023 | -1.9% |
| Web Administrators | 510,685 | 0.7% |
Computational Biology 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 computational biology is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $159,837 |
| Document Management Specialists | $147,490 |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | $143,840 |
| Information Security Engineers | $142,543 |
| Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | $140,795 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $124,655 |
Computational Biology has 4 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 3,821 degrees a year; the largest are Biostatistics (1,682), Bioinformatics (1,616) 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 |
|---|---|
| Biostatistics | 1,682 |
| Bioinformatics | 1,616 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Other | 312 |
| Biometry/Biometrics | 211 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
