by our College Data Analytics TeamComputational Biology was the 797th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 209 degrees in this year alone. This is a difference of 34 over the prior year, a growth of 16.3%.
Our 2023 Best Computational Biology Schools ranking analyzes 19 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for computational biology students. Explore this or one of our many other custom computational biology rankings further below.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in computational biology is understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. Required skills include using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most computational biology degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional computational biology certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Computational Biology degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in computational biology to the highest computational biology degree, a . The time it takes to complete a computational biology degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to computational biology, with approximately 46.2% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for computational biology workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 43.6% |
| Master’s Degree | 18.7% |
| Doctoral Degree | 14.7% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 13.8% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 2.8% |
93.2% of computational biology workers have at least a bachelor's. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in computational biology have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the computational biology career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your computational biology degree? Computational Biology careers are expected to grow 10.0% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to computational biology.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Workers | 313,800 | 9.3% |
| Biological Science Professors | 71,700 | 15.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 62,300 | 9.9% |
| Biological Scientists | 41,800 | 8.0% |
| Mathematical Science Occupations | 2,400 | 9.1% |
As you might expect, salaries for computational biology graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for computational biology graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers computational biology grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | $139,680 |
| Biological Science Professors | $97,340 |
| Computer Workers | $93,350 |
| Biological Scientists | $83,600 |
With over 51 different computational biology degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased computational biology school rankings to help you with this.
One of 4 majors within the Biomathematics & Bioinformatics area of study, Computational Biology has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biostatistics | 1,275 |
| Bioinformatics | 1,156 |
| Biomathematics | 169 |
| Biometry/Biometrics | 148 |
