If you are looking to jump into the biotechnology field, a great specialty to consider is bioinformatics, a hybrid field that combines biology and computer science, as there is a high demand for people to fill bioinformatics master’s degree jobs. You can qualify for a position in this field by obtaining one of the best bioinformatics master’s degrees.
A master’s degree in bioinformatics involves learning how to create and use statistical and computational models for the purpose of mapping and analyzing biological and genomic data. Finding the best master’s degrees in bioinformatics can be challenging, especially with the overwhelming number of choices. Read below as we tell you more about bioinformatics master’s degrees, along with the institutions’ information you’ll need to get started.
Where Can I Get a Master’s Degree in Bioinformatics?
Some of the best schools to get a bioinformatics master’s degree are Arizona State University, Drexel University, and University of Texas at San Antonio. There are many other viable options to get a master’s degree in bioinformatics, some of which we’ll discuss later in this article.
What Schools Offer the Best Bioinformatics Master’s Degrees?
- Arizona State University
- Drexel University
- Penn State University
- University of Texas at San Antonio
- Johns Hopkins University
What Are the Admission Requirements for a Master’s Degree in Bioinformatics?
The admission requirements for a bioinformatics master’s degree program include the completion of a bachelor’s degree in biology, computer science, or any other related field. An essay question, a statement of purpose, or a motivation letter detailing your research interests is usually required to get into a master’s degree in bioinformatics. Most schools also ask for letters of recommendation and a professional resume.
Some universities ask for your GMAT or GRE test scores, while other institutes may have a minimum grade requirement of B+ in core subjects like biology, biochemistry, and molecular cell biology. A TOEFL score of 79 on the online test is also required for international students who need to show proof of English language proficiency.
Bioinformatics Master’s Degree Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in biology or computer science or other science-related disciplines
- Letters of recommendation
- GRE/GMAT test scores
- TOEFL or IELTS scores (if applicable)
- Minimum grade requirement of B+ in core subjects
- Statement of purpose
- Professional resume
How to Get a Bioinformatics Master’s Degree
You get a bioinformatics master’s degree by fulfilling all of the graduation requirements such as completing the minimum number of credits as well as the minimum GPA. You’ll also likely need to write a thesis as the culmination of your studies or take a seminar or internship.
How Many Credits Do You Need for a Master’s Degree in Bioinformatics?
You need a minimum of 30 credits for a master’s degree in bioinformatics, usually about nine credits each semester for four semesters. All colleges and universities have a slightly different set of qualifications to complete a master’s degree in bioinformatics, but common requirements include finishing core courses in bioinformatics, statistics, and research ethics, as well as writing a thesis.
Bioinformatics Degree Requirements
- Minimum 30 graduate credits
- 17 to 24 credits in core classes
- 6 to 13 credits in electives
- Lower-level classes in biology, data analysis, and statistics
- Upper-level classes such as genomic sequencing technologies, artificial intelligence, and clinical metabolomics
- A minimum 3.0 GPA
- Thesis, seminar, or internship
Best Bioinformatics Master’s Degree Programs and Schools: Overview
| School | Program | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University | Master of Science in Biological Data Science | Higher Learning Commission |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Master of Science in Computational Biology | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| Drexel University | Master of Science in Bioinformatics | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| Georgetown University | Master of Science in Bioinformatics | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis | Master of Science in Bioinformatics | Higher Learning Commission |
| Johns Hopkins University | Master of Science in Bioinformatics | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| Penn State University | Master of Science in Bioinformatics and Genomics | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | Master of Science in Bioinformatics | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| University of Delaware | Professional Science Master’s in Bioinformatics | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| The University of Texas at San Antonio | Master of Science in Biotechnology | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges |
Best Schools for Bioinformatics: Top Bioinformatics Master’s Degree Programs
Now that we’ve listed the best schools for bioinformatics and the top bioinformatics master’s degree study programs, let’s do a deep dive into each school and its respective program.
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What Is a Bioinformatics Master’s Degree?
A bioinformatics master’s degree is a relatively new and interdisciplinary graduate program that combines the advanced study of data sciences, biology, and computational models. A master’s degree program in bioinformatics program allows you to pivot into many fields including computational sciences, data sciences, and life sciences. These fields of education allow you to work in pharmaceuticals, government, academia, or law.
At the master’s level, a degree in bioinformatics offers experience solving real-world problems, often through co-op educational programs in bioinformatics where students are placed in jobs in the workforce for credits. Bioinformatics students are taught the application of their learned foundational skills and quantitative skills by mapping out and interpreting large pieces of biological data.
How Important Is a Master’s Degree in Bioinformatics?
A Master’s Degree in Bioinformatics is very important because a bachelor’s degree is not enough training for a job in biotechnology. Most relevant bachelor’s degrees are not focused enough to qualify for jobs within the industry. After achieving a master’s in bioinformatics, you can land some of the most high-paying jobs in the United States as a bioinformatician, a research scientist, or a bioinformatics analyst, to name a few.
What Types of Master’s Degrees Can You Get in Bioinformatics?
The types of master’s degrees you can get in bioinformatics are exclusively a Master’s of Science, but they can be done in-person, online, or through a hybrid format. One variation of a Master of Science in Bioinformatics is to pursue a co-op educational study program, which involves working in a professional environment as a part of your degree and gives you real-life experience even before you get your diploma.
Is it Better to Get a Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree in Bioinformatics?
It is better to get a master’s in bioinformatics because it teaches your real-world experience along with providing advanced education. You are more likely to get a higher position and higher salary with a master’s degree in bioinformatics than with a bachelor’s degree, alone.
A master’s degree in bioinformatics offers you different routes toward concentrating in a specific niche within the field of bioinformatics and biotechnology. For example, you can choose to do a concentration in computational biology applications, biological data science, or genomics.
What Is the Difference Between a Bioinformatics Master’s Degree and a Bioinformatics Certificate?
The difference between a bioinformatics master’s degree and a bioinformatics certificate is the level of knowledge that students acquire. A master’s bioinformatics degree program is of a much higher level of education, which means it’s more in-depth and rigorous and offers more courses and areas for specialization.
A master’s degree in bioinformatics is one step away from a PhD program, whereas a bioinformatics certificate is intended for a professional to build upon their foundational skills. A bioinformatics certificate takes less than a year for successful completion, while a master’s takes at least a year and a half, if not two years to complete.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Master’s Degree in Bioinformatics?
It costs an average of $19,314 to get a master’s degree in bioinformatics, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The price of higher education depends upon which type of university you choose.
The in-state tuition for a master’s degree in bioinformatics at a public university is $11,495. It costs an average of $27,776 for a private non-profit school and $14,208 for a private for-profit school. It costs an average of $23,138 at private institutions to get a master’s in a bioinformatics degree program in bioinformatics. The 75th percentile for a master’s degree in bioinformatics at a non-profit institute can go as high as $44,667, according to NCES.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Bioinformatics Master’s Degree?
It takes approximately two years to get a bioinformatics master’s degree. Often, students will take approximately nine credits per semester for four semesters, which typically excludes thesis or seminar credits. In addition to a thesis, this academic program in bioinformatics includes core credits, as well as elective credits.
Core credits generally take up around 17 credits, an internship is usually equivalent to one or two credits, while electives make up around 13 to 15 credits in a bioinformatics master’s degree program. Core subjects may include courses in applied mathematics, statistics, and database systems for biological data science.
How Hard Is It to Get a Master’s Degree in Bioinformatics?
It is not very hard to get a master’s degree in bioinformatics if you have the right level of schooling prior to this degree. It’s an interdisciplinary master’s that requires prospective bioinformatics students to have a working knowledge of biology, mathematics, and statistics. So long as you are proficient in these STEM fields, it will not be difficult for you to get a master’s degree in bioinformatics.
Why Should You Get a Bioinformatics Master’s Degree?
You should get a bioinformatics master’s degree because it improves your chances of getting hired at high-paying bioinformatics jobs, as bioinformatics jobs pertaining to this degree are very in demand. For example, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for research scientists is projected to grow by 22 percent between 2020 and 2030.
What Courses Do You Need to Take in a Master’s Degree Program in Bioinformatics?
The courses that you need to take in a master’s degree program in bioinformatics include core courses in computational models, applied mathematics for biology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and programming courses for scientists.
Databases for Bioinformatics
This course familiarizes bioinformatics students with well-known databases in the bioinformatics field, as aspiring researchers can begin their work or find supporting data for their studies, through already-established research. You’ll learn the ins and outs of databases such as GenBank from the National Center for Biotechnology (NCBI), PIR from the Protein Information Resource, and SwissProt courtesy of the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics.
Applied Mathematics Techniques in Biology
Since effective studies use large amounts of data sets with many variables, all that data needs to be computed in a correct, orderly manner. This course will introduce you to mathematical modeling for areas like genomic sequencing, computational biology applications, and systems biology.
Programming for Scientists
In order to organize your information into orderly data sets, you’ll often need to code your own programs. This course teaches you both object oriented, as well as top-down design programming. You’ll likely be required to learn Python for bioinformatics, alongside others.
Applied Cellular and Molecular Biology
With your prior undergraduate foundation in biology, you’ll build upon your foundational skill as well as learn the latest developments in experimental techniques and how to implement them into your own studies. You’ll be introduced to techniques such as therapeutics, proteomic and genomic analysis, and disease diagnosis.
Computational Genomics
Being that a large part of bioinformatics involves creating and analyzing biological data, this class teaches you to analyze information and programs related to genomic sequences, which involves the function, evolution, structure, mapping, and editing of genomes. Often, you’ll incorporate genomics into software that pertains to topics such as machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Continuing Education Paths for Bioinformatics Master’s Degree Graduates
After completing your bioinformatics master’s degree, you can take the academic route of getting a PhD degree or the career route, both of which will often involve research in the field of bioinformatics. The skills you’ll learn in your graduate bioinformatics program will prepare you for many high-paying jobs in fields such as biotech, health care, government, and pharmaceuticals.
Related Bioinformatics Degrees
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What to Look For in the Best Bioinformatics Master’s Degree Programs
The main things to look for in the best bioinformatics master’s degree programs is a high-quality curriculum, a good program reputation, exceptional faculty credentials, the opportunity for co-op programs, and high employment outcomes for graduates. Below we look at the importance of these variables.
Curriculum Content
A very important factor in a bioinformatics graduate degree program is the content of the curriculum. It should ensure you build upon your existing knowledge, strengthen any weak areas, and develop knowledge and skills that you’ve yet to learn. The curriculum should be relevant, of high quality, and meet the demands of your professional or academic goals.
Faculty Credentials
It is a good idea to check how accomplished the faculty is at a certain institution to make sure they are well-respected in the field of bioinformatics or the specific subjects they are teaching. Additionally, look into facultys’ research specializations, as their interests might mesh with your own, opening the possibility of an internship or seminar in that subject.
Program Reputation
Colleges and universities might have really good reputations, while their bioinformatics programs might be new and not as well established. So, even if a school is high-ranking in many areas, be sure to research its bioinformatics programs to ensure it meets your preferences and will serve the purpose you intend for it to.
Employment Outcomes
It is important to research whether or not your two-year graduate bioinformatics program is going to reap any monetary or career benefits. Pick a program that has a high rate of employment after graduation and see where alumni of those programs are working today.
Co-Op Programs
If you want to have real-life work experience in a bioinformatics-related field before graduating, see if prospective schools offer co-op study programs with work placement credits. Even if you end up getting a job you don’t like, it still takes you one step closer to finding your dream job.
What Is the Most Affordable Bioinformatics Master’s Degree?
The most affordable bioinformatics master’s degree programs are at Arizona State University and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Arizona’s tuition for its bioinformatics program is $17,234 per year for in-state students and $29,718 for out-of-state students. Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis charges only $384 per credit for in-state students and $577 per credit for out-of-state students, which would amount to only about $7,000 per year for in-state and $10,000 for out-of-state students.
Salary and Job Outlook for Bioinformatics Master’s Degree Graduates
After you graduate with a master’s in bioinformatics, biotechnology, or computational biology, you can earn a higher salary than your bachelor’s-level counterparts. You can start applying for bioinformatics jobs in different sectors of biotechnology like healthcare, biomedical informatics, government, and the pharmaceutical industry.
How Hard Is It to Get a Job With a Bioinformatics Master’s Degree?
It is not very hard to get a job with a bioinformatics master’s degree. As projected by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for bioinformatics scientists is on an exponential rise. The demand for research scientists is expected to grow 22 percent between 2020 to 2030 while 3,200 new jobs are projected to be added per year in this field.
What’s the Average Bioinformatics Master’s Degree Salary?
The average salary for someone with a bioinformatics master’s degree is $82,000, according to PayScale. You can earn higher or lower than this amount depending on your job title, organization, industry, and location. For example, a biological data scientist can earn up to $136,000.
What Types of Jobs Can You Get With a Bioinformatics Master’s Degree?
With a bioinformatics master’s degree, you can get jobs in a variety of sectors, including biotechnology, biomedical informatics, medical informatics, data science, software engineering, and molecular biology.
Bioinformatics Degree Jobs
- Computational biologist
- Computer and Information Research Scientists
- Medical Scientists
- Data Analyst
- Biophysicist
Potential Careers With a Bioinformatics Degree
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How Much Money Can You Make With a Master’s Degree in Bioinformatics?
You can make a significant amount of money with a master’s degree in bioinformatics immediately after graduating. Even new graduates can make between $70,000 to $130,000. These earnings, of course, only increase as you gain more experience and advance in your career. Below, we’ll have a look at some of the highest-paying bioinformatics master’s degree jobs and their respective salaries.
Highest-Paying Bioinformatics Master’s Degree Jobs and Salaries: Overview
| Bioinformatics Master’s Degree Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Bioinformatics Analyst | $107,297 |
| Bioinformatics Scientist | $97,084 |
| Biostatistician | $77,665 |
| Bioinformatician | $73,808 |
| Microbiologist | $55,468 |
Best Jobs for Bioinformatics Master’s Degree Grads
The best jobs for bioinformatics master’s degree graduates include those of bioinformatics scientists, researchers, analysts, statisticians, and microbiologists. However, there are numerous other career paths that you can take with this degree.
Best Jobs According to Your Major
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Is a Master’s Degree in Bioinformatics Worth It?
Yes, a master’s degree in bioinformatics is definitely worth it. Throughout your program, you will build upon the knowledge gained in your undergraduate degree, leading to a more impressive and better-paying job upon graduation. With a high salary average and job outlook, now is the perfect time to find your niche as a bioinformatics scientist.
Most graduate bioinformatics programs also give students work experience through co-op learning, which would allow them to solve real-world problems and develop professional skills before even entering the workforce.
Additional Reading About Bioinformatics
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Bioinformatics Master’s Degree FAQ
We study bioinformatics because scientific and technological advancements rely on the organization and interpretation of data, which is performed by professionals in this field. Bioinformatics students and professionals combine their knowledge of biology, statistics, and computer programming to help with groundbreaking research like the Human Genome Project.
Yes, getting a Master of Science in Bioinformatics has a future as the US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that computer and information research science are some of the highest-paying sectors in the United States, with a 22 percent projected growth between 2020 and 2030.
The difference between a master’s degree and a PhD in bioinformatics is that a master’s program is a two-year degree you take after finishing your bachelor’s degree, while a PhD is a more advanced degree that can only be pursued once you’ve completed your master’s degree.
The best country to do a master’s in bioinformatics is the United States. However, other countries that are influential to the bioinformatics discipline include the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada, China, Japan, and India.
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