Skip to main content
CUNY New York City College of Technology stands out with a net price of just $4,783, making it nearly half the cost of the next cheapest option at $5,918. This dramatic price advantage comes at a trade-off, with graduation rates at 19.40% compared to schools like UC San Diego, which maintains 87.60% graduation rates at $11,750 net cost. The field of biomathematics and computational biology has found particular strength in California's biotech corridor, where companies like Illumina and Genentech drive demand for graduates who can bridge biological data with mathematical modeling. Eastern New Mexico University presents an interesting case with its 27.55% acceptance rate, the most selective among affordable options, yet maintains a $6,199 net price. The $71,015 median earnings reported by UC San Diego graduates reflect the field's strong market position, especially as pharmaceutical companies increasingly rely on computational approaches for drug discovery and personalized medicine development.
50
Programs
$4,783 – $20,470
Net Price Range
$68,412
Avg. Program Earnings
63.8%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $4,783 $7,332 19.4% 81.8%
2 $5,918 $7,675 54.7% 91.1%
3 $6,199 $6,863 39.8% 27.6%
4 $7,131 $4,656 55.1% 95.6%
5 $9,900 $8,379 46.6% 92.1%
6 $10,896 $37,300 56.0% 87.5%
7 $10,997 $5,656 83.0% 25.0%
8 $11,234 $8,991 51.2% 86.9%
9 $11,408 $10,449 53.9% 82.9%
10 $11,750 $15,265 87.6% 23.7%
11 $12,514 $8,634 47.8% 93.2%
12 $12,791 $8,370 47.5% 85.9%
13 $12,832 $7,388 44.7% 86.8%
14 $12,840 $14,237 86.0% 21.2%
15 $12,983 $8,989 92.1% 17.1%
16 $12,997 $9,648 61.2% 88.4%
17 $13,670 $12,051 67.8% 89.8%
18 $14,013 $13,747 92.7% 8.6%
19 $14,487 $6,496 82.2% 66.7%
20 $14,738 $11,286 55.5% 87.7%
21 $15,265 $6,074 34.2%
22 $15,501 $9,815 62.9% 75.2%
23 $15,729 $18,392 68.7% 93.7%
24 $15,960 $13,626 65.9% 86.8%
25 $16,381 $20,325 63.9% 70.7%
26 $16,496 $19,022 73.1% 66.0%
27 $16,607 $14,560 74.5% 46.9%
28 $16,931 $16,080 78.8% 73.8%
29 $17,118 $8,152 45.4% 95.4%
30 $17,722 $12,594 51.2% 79.0%
31 $17,727 $8,832 62.4% 86.7%
32 $17,760 $31,728 42.4%
33 $18,127 $60,300 91.9% 17.0%
34 $18,165 $10,497 75.5% 90.2%
35 $18,251 $28,976 56.8% 94.4%
36 $18,285 $27,868 50.2% 95.2%
37 $18,322 $32,720 70.7% 77.7%
38 $18,328 $12,952 70.6% 80.6%
39 $18,686 $62,412 94.1% 6.9%
40 $18,762 $33,660 68.6% 96.7%
41 $18,803 $17,079 66.4% 76.5%
42 $19,335 $8,999 38.1% 86.5%
43 $19,353 $51,763 72.4% 61.4%
44 $19,452 $16,458 65.4% 91.0%
45 $19,568 $13,494 70.6% 82.5%
46 $19,813 $60,156 96.1% 4.0%
47 $19,988 $23,324 49.5% 98.9%
48 $20,004 $34,595 61.7% 72.5%
49 $20,360 $15,978 71.9% 70.5%
50 $20,470 $10,782 73.4% 67.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the huge cost difference between the cheapest and most expensive programs?

CUNY New York City College of Technology costs $4,783 while UC Irvine reaches $12,840, creating an $8,057 gap. Public schools dominate the affordable range, with 13 of the 15 cheapest options being state institutions. The two private schools, Brigham Young University-Idaho at $7,131 and Christian Brothers University at $10,896, show how religious affiliation can impact pricing structures.

How do graduation rates vary across these affordable programs?

Graduation rates span from 19.40% at CUNY NYC College of Technology to 92.10% at UNC Chapel Hill. Schools with net costs above $10,000 typically maintain graduation rates over 50%, while those under $8,000 show more variation. UC San Diego achieves 87.60% graduation rates at $11,750, demonstrating that higher investment often correlates with completion success.

Is acceptance rate linked to program affordability in this field?

Eastern New Mexico University breaks the pattern with just 27.55% acceptance rate despite a $6,199 net cost. Most affordable programs maintain high acceptance rates, with BYU-Idaho accepting 95.56% of applicants and Cal State San Bernardino at 91.08%. The most selective schools like UNC Chapel Hill (17.11%) and UC Irvine (21.15%) still keep net costs reasonable for public institutions.

Where do graduates typically find employment with these degrees?

UC San Diego graduates earn a median $71,015, reflecting California's biotech industry strength in areas like La Jolla and San Francisco. Pharmaceutical companies, genomics firms, and research institutions actively recruit computational biology graduates for roles in drug discovery and data analysis. Academic medical centers and government research facilities also provide career paths, particularly for graduates from programs near major metropolitan areas.

Does geographic location impact program costs significantly?

California schools like UC San Diego ($11,750) and UC Irvine ($12,840) carry higher costs than Midwest options like University of Nebraska Omaha ($12,791). However, Western region schools don't universally cost more, as Cal State San Bernardino maintains just $5,918 net price. Regional cost of living affects total education expenses beyond tuition, making location a important factor in overall affordability.

Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.