by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 19 U.S. colleges awarded 248 degrees and certificates in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 89% of graduates. College Factual ranks 8 schools in its 2027 Best Epidemiology and Biostatistics Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $44,645 one year after completing, rising to $66,409 after four years.
A major in Epidemiology and Biostatistics covers A Program With A General Synthesis Of Epidemiology And Biostatistics Or A Specialization Which Draws From Epidemiology And Biostatistics. Includes Instruction In Biostatistics, Disease And Injury Determinants, Epidemiology, Health Services Research, Pathology, Spatial Analysis, And Statistics.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, epidemiology and biostatistics is a popular field of study, with 248 degrees awarded annually. 19 colleges award epidemiology and biostatistics degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 32.
By level, the 248 awards include 220 master’s degrees and 28 doctorates.
Women earned 74% of epidemiology and biostatistics degrees and certificates in the latest year (183 of 248). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (81) and Asian (37), and international students earned 69.
College Factual ranks 8 schools in its 2027 Best Epidemiology and Biostatistics Schools ranking, including 6 for master’s degrees and 2 for doctorates. It also ranks epidemiology and biostatistics schools within 1 state. In all, 19 colleges offer epidemiology and biostatistics programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Epidemiology and Biostatistics Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common epidemiology and biostatistics credential is the master’s degree: 220 of the 248 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to epidemiology and biostatistics call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Active Listening, 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:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an epidemiology and biostatistics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 220 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 28 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to epidemiology and biostatistics, at 34.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 34.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 23.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 16.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.1% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
12 occupations are related to Epidemiology and Biostatistics, with an average median salary of $98,652; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Faculty Member, Nutrition Professor, Optometry Professor and Obstetrics Teacher.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to epidemiology and biostatistics, 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% |
| Epidemiologists | 190,675 | 3.2% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
Epidemiology and Biostatistics graduates earn a median $44,645 one year after completing their program, $66,409 after four years and $64,232 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,645 |
| 4 years | $66,409 |
| 5 years | $64,232 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to epidemiology and 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 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Epidemiologists | $87,636 |
Epidemiology and Biostatistics has 11 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 9,449 degrees a year; the largest are Epidemiology (3,015), Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography (2,663) and Ecology (1,199). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Epidemiology | 3,015 |
| Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography | 2,663 |
| Ecology | 1,199 |
| Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | 935 |
| Environmental Biology | 490 |
| Conservation Biology | 431 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other | 346 |
| Evolutionary Biology | 207 |
| Aquatic Biology/Limnology | 129 |
| Systematic Biology/Biological Systematics | 24 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
