A biostatistics degree can open the doors for a fruitful and beneficial career, as biostatistics professionals are able to interpret the important data gathered by those in other biomedical science fields and translate this data into easy to understand and useful information. Professional biostaticians are able to work with many other medical professionals in gathering and interpreting important data related to public health, diseases, and medical solutions, helping others either in their community or in other communities around the globe. Scientific and medical evidence through data is a necessity in today’s ever changing and evolving modern world, and biostaticians are just one type of professional who deserves thanking for the medical advancements that occur each and every day in order to keep populations healthy.
Featured MPH Programs for Biostatistics
If you are looking into a biostatistics career, the top 5 schools and programs to consider are:
University of Minnesota School of Public Health
Applied Biostatistics Certificate
Minor in Biostatistics
Master of Science in Biostatistics
Doctorate in Biostatistics
Summary
University of Minnesota School of Public Health offers multiple biostatistics degree courses that allows students to take their education a far as they would like it to go with the school, and this includes online programs as well as on-campus study. The applied biostatistics certificate offered by the school is an entirely online program geared towards busy working professionals, and all degrees offered by the school are fully accredited.
Tuition
The different degrees programs offered by University of Minnesota School of Public Health in biostatistics differ in tuition cost, however for a master of science program a student can expect to pay around $1250 per credit.
Vanderbilt University
Master of Science in Biostatistics
Doctorate in Biostatistics
Summary
Vanderbilt University offers exceptional graduate programs in biostatistics for students who hold a degree but are looking to further their education. They offer both master of science and doctorate level degrees and a student can begin his or her graduate studies at the school and continue to their desired level. Graduates will be prepared to be leaders in private, academic, or public sector biostatistics, and the curriculum focuses on multi-disciplinary studies geared towards complete professional preparation.
Tuition
Students can expect to pay around $44,030 per year in tuition while completing their desired biostatistics program at the school.
University of Texas School of Public Health
Master of Science Biostatistics
Doctorate in Biostatistics
Summary
University of Texas School of Public Health offers graduate study programs to students wishing to further their education in biostatistics, and the school offers two different programs that allow for two different degrees. If a student obtains their master of science in biostatistics from the school, they can then advance their degree further to a doctorate in biostatistics if they should choose. The school focuses on collaborative study and research to prepare students to graduate and become leaders in their field, whether they choose to work in the private, public, or academic sectors.
Tuition
Residents of Texas can expect to pay around $5,500 per year in tuition, making this school very affordable to students, while non-residents of the state will pay $17,600 per year for the program.
Drexel University School of Public Health
Master of Science in Biostatistics
Summary
Drexel University’s School of Public Health offers Master of Science degree programs to students looking to further their education in biostatistics, and students will be prepared to make immediate contributions to the world of public health upon graduation no matter which sector they may choose to work in. The program uses public health as a focus in terms of analyzing data and building real world experience, truly preparing graduates to become leaders in their field after obtaining their degree. Full time students who are part of this fully accredited program can expect to earn their master of science degree in around 2 years.
Tuition
The cost is around $1,010 per credit hour in tuition for the master of science in biostatistics program.
UCLA Department of Biostatistics
Master of Science in Biostatistics
Doctorate in Biostatistics
Summary
UCLA’s Department of Biostatistics offers two different biostatistics programs for graduate students looking to obtain their master of science or doctorate in the field. The master of science program, while typically taking 2 years to complete, may be completed in as little as 1 year with the school should the student have the desired mathematical and public health experience in their undergraduate studies. The doctorate program is typically a 4 year program to be taken after the master of science has been obtained, however this can be earned in less time through the school as well.
Tuition
California residents can expect to pay around $10,656 per academic year when enrolling in the program, and out of state students will pay around $25,692.
Selection Criteria for Biostatistics MPH Degree Programs
Accreditation
The quality of any public health program rests on the academic standards of the department that offers it. The qualifications of the faculty, the research and reference resources available, the subjects covered in the curriculum, the standards for administrative support and evaluation… these are all aspects of your degree program that you really want to know are nailed down.
That’s why accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health(CEPH) is a crucial criteria behind the schools on this list. As the speciality accreditation agency for public health programs recognized by the U.S. Department of Educationsince 1974, CEPH evaluates MPH programs according to the unique demands and core competencies required for public health service. Accreditation is so important that it is a requirement in order to sit for the major professional certification exam, the CPH (Certified in Public Health) from NBPHE(National Board of Public Health Examiners).
Research and Facilities
Biostatistics is a field that is constantly evolving, and it’s evolving because of the hard work that instructors and graduate students put into it. This is nowhere more true than it is in biostatistical programs, which have been some of the most innovative contributors to the state of knowledge in the field over the past decades. We found schools that have both the resources and the expertise to put together groundbreaking research in biostatistical investigations, which means having the right hardware and the right analytical approaches to mining the vast datasets of bioinformatic information for the nuggets of insight that will boost health and welfare for populations around the world.
Faculty
Although the CEPH accreditation process covers the basic skills and qualifications that a public health program must require of faculty, there’s plenty of room above that baseline for schools to distinguish themselves. There’s no question that it’s a field that has rock stars… professors like Minnesota’s Ancel Keys, who launched the revolutionary Seven Countries Study, or James Harlan Steele of UT, widely considered to be the father of veterinary public health.
And while not every school has a faculty that reaches those heights, there are many that have instructors who are highly respected in the field. We sought out programs who have faculty with genuine on-the-ground experience and expertise in the field who are active in making important contributions in both research and practice.
Cost
Although cost was not our primary consideration in developing this top list, it’s always something to look at when considering what school to pick for a Masters in Public Health. So while we chose only schools that are the very best in the field, we let you know what the costs will look like so you can choose something that is not only excellent, but affordable.
Reputation
The top schools in public health don’t hide their light under a bushel; usually we’re not the only ones who have figured out they belong on lists like this. We consider the opinions of other popular third-party rankings, such as those from The Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report, or the Economist. Chances are good that a school we’ve found at the top of the spectrum has also been well-reviewed by one or more of them.
Practicum
Public health is a hands-on business, and any CEPH-accredited program will include an applied practical experience component that puts you out in the real world for a face-to-face exposure to the conditions that you will face in practicing after graduation. This kind of internship experience is critical for the kind of practical, well-rounded graduates that the field demands, and some schools do a better job of planning, supporting, and placing students in experiential positions than others. The programs on this list are all at the top of their game when it comes to putting you into relevant, realistic, and well-supported placements where you can learn from practicing professionals while dealing with real-world problems of public health.
All schools shown here have been contacted and informed of their inclusion on this list. Schools that do not wish to be featured are immediately removed. School names are the registered trademarks of their original owners. The use of any trade name or trademark does not imply any association with the school.
