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9 Best Online Master’s in Biostatistics Programs

Written by College Cliffs Team At CollegeCliffs.com, our team, comprising seasoned educators and counselors, is committed to supporting students on their journey through graduate studies. Our advisors, holding advanced degrees in diverse fields, provide tailored guidance, current program details, and pragmatic tips on navigating application procedures.

Reviewed by Linda Weems I got started researching colleges and universities about 10 years ago while exploring a second career. While my second career ended up being exactly what I’m doing now, and I didn’t end up going to college, I try to put myself in your shoes every step of the way as I build out College Cliffs as a user-friendly resource for prospective students.

Updated: March 8, 2024, Reading time: 21 minutes

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Biostatistics is one of the numerous highly specialized branches that encompasses the study of public health. Given the diversity of the field of study, it is an ideal academic program for students with an innate passion for public health and mathematics.

The application of biology and the mathematical theories of statistics make the expertise of biostatisticians in high demand nowadays. Data from surveys, polls, specialized studies, questionnaires, and extensive research provide biostatisticians and scientists with a comprehensive overview of the public health status.

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The Lowdown

Completing a master’s degree in biostatistics is one of the most flexible options that opens a variety of lucrative careers in the public health sector and other industries. It is a challenging yet fulfilling endeavor that highlights the practical applications of data analysis to determine causes of injuries and diseases, as well as evaluate health trends of different populations.

Undoubtedly, the promising job growth and profitable wages attract students to complete a graduate program in biostatistics as part of their advanced studies and credentialing!

Although the biostatistics graduate program is excellent for career advancement, students should also consider the different certifications and other credentials to excel in this highly competitive field.

Methodology

The best graduate program in Biostatistics should be a worthy investment for your academic and professional endeavors! That said, finding an online program aligned with your learning objectives, budget, and preferences is vital.

Today, however, a Master’s in Biostatistics program that can be completed 100% online is rare, with most of them offered in a blended format.

We curated the country’s leading universities offering the best Master of Biostatistics program for you! These academic features are present in each of the online graduate programs that made it to our list:

Kindly visit our Methodology page and see our comprehensive ranking and school selection process.

College Cliffs is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

9 Best Online Master’s in Biostatistics Programs

University of Louisville

University of Louisville - Online Learning

Online Master of Science in Biostatistics

The University of Louisville offers a 100% online M.S. in Biostatistics program through its School of Public Health & Information Science. The academic program is designed for professionals with a baccalaureate degree who advance or start a career in the field of data science, statistics, or biostatistics.

What Makes This Program Unique:

UofL’s online Master’s in Biostatistics program is one of the extremely rare comprehensive biostatistics programs in the U.S. It is a holistic, forward-thinking academic program highlighting nursing, healthcare, dental, and medical applications of statistical analysis.

Did You Know?

If students aren’t 100% ready yet to pursue a more advanced master’s program, the University of Louisville has a 100% online Certificate in Biostatistics as an alternative. The certificate program only requires 15 credit hours or the equivalent of five courses.

Aspiring biostatistics professionals can complete the program on their own time and preference.

No GRE is required for admission into the certificate program. Similar to the online master’s program, students in the certificate program learn how to use SAS and R software, as well as employ statistical methods.

University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley

Online MPH – Epidemiology & Biostatistics Concentration

The University of California, Berkeley’s Online Master of Public Health program has an Epidemiology & Biostatistics Concentration that helps students discover the numerous factors affecting diseases and health in human populations.

What Makes This Program Unique:

The Epidemiology & Biostatistics Concentration helps students develop proficiencies in both biostatistics and epidemiology, allowing them to immediately apply skills and knowledge to improve the effectiveness of various public health initiatives.

As part of the elective requirements, the online Biostatistics master’s program at Berkeley offers a wide array of choices for students to choose from, including Global Health courses, Regulatory Science courses, Community Health Sciences courses, Infectious Diseases courses, and Spatial Data Science for Public Health courses.

Did You Know?

Given the Epidemiology & Biostatistics Concentration is a fast-moving program, aspiring biostatistics professionals pursuing the MPH program at Berkeley must develop a semester-by-semester course map to ensure that advanced courses are within the timeframe of the academic program.

The university provides several tools and learning materials, such as course planning spreadsheets and sample schedules, to ensure that students can complete the Concentration requirements.

University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska

Online Master of Science in Biostatistics

The M.S. in Biostatistics program at the University of Nebraska receives programmatic accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). It is designed to have a comprehensive curriculum, providing students with experience and training in scientific logic, data interpretation, data analysis, and statistical reasoning.

What Makes This Program Unique:

The online Master’s in Biostatistics program features a holistic curriculum that is aligned with the core competencies of biostatistics. The academic program strongly focuses on the theoretical mathematical core of biostatistics and the development of applied skills.

Its primary focus is on the relevant biostatistics areas, including biostatistical learning, statistical principles, biostatistical methods, survival analysis, and study design.

Did You Know?

The University of Nebraska Medical Center has a primary clinical partner with Nebraska Medicine and has trained more health professionals than any other facility in the state. The partnership emphasizes community engagement, clinical excellence, research scope, and academic excellence.

The university offers some of the most affordable tuition rates in Nebraska for online program offerings. Thanks to the university’s military and veteran services, the military, veterans, and their dependents can pursue any online program with the assistance of military advisers and staff. Students can enjoy the generous acceptance of transfer credits, as well as flexible deployment and activation policies.

University of Florida

University of Florida - Department of Biostatistics

Online Master of Science in Biostatistics

The University of Florida’s online biostatistics program is primarily designed for post-undergraduates and working professionals who can’t attend on campus. The academic program provides online students the flexibility and convenience of pursuing a master’s program. Many graduates of the program pursue rewarding careers in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.

What Makes This Program Unique:

Graduates with an M.S. in Biostatistics degree at trained to become highly competitive in three major settings, namely public health practice, federal agencies and industry, and academia.

The program can also be completed as a Combined Degree (Bachelor’s/M.S.), where students can earn a baccalaureate degree from any program at UF while completing a master’s program with 12 credit hours of graduate coursework. Students can earn the master’s program within one additional year, consisting of two semesters with 24 credits.

Did You Know?

UF’s Master of Science in Biostatistics program is taught by the same dedicated team of faculty, with the majority of them elected by the American Statistical Association.

Through the graduate program, online students receive comprehensive training aligned with the interdisciplinary health culture and a state-of-the-art facility at the College of Public Health and Health Professionals and the College of Medicine.

East Tennessee State University

East Tennessee State University

Online M.P.H. Biostatistics Concentration

The Master of Public Health program at East Tennessee State University is one of the many academic programs accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. It is a 100% online academic program that doesn’t need any on-campus requirements.

What Makes This Program Unique:

The university provides aspiring biostatistics students to begin the program in either the Fall or Spring semesters. Apart from the Biostatistics concentration, ETSU offers Epidemiology, Community Health, and Health Administration as other specializations.

The Public Health graduate program allows distance learners to pursue a variety of goals in the healthcare industry. The extensive research opportunities will help students gain relevant laboratory experience.

Did You Know?

ETSU’s College of Public Health is a Coverdell Fellowship partner, providing students with the opportunity to qualify for the graduate fellowship program. Thanks to the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program, financial assistance is available for the Global Health Service Partnership Volunteers, Peace Corps Response, and Peace Corps Volunteers.

The scholarship ranges from $750 to $3,500, depending on the time in the country, cost, and location. Qualified students from the College of Public Health will receive in-state tuition rates for both online and on-campus learners.

Kent State University

Kent State University

Online Master’s in Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Kent State University’s online biostatistics master’s program equips distance learners with career-ready skills that will immediately help them find careers in the public health sector.

Through the program, students will gain foundational knowledge of ethical and theoretical frameworks, as well as relevant information on study implementation and design, and statistical analysis.

What Makes This Program Unique:

The Epidemiology and Biostatistics graduate program has met the highest academic standards since it receives programmatic accreditation from the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health and the Council on Education for Public Health, making it one of the rare programs of its kind in the state.

Did You Know?

The M.S. in Epidemiology and Biostatistics program allows students to customize their degree with a diverse range of electives, including topics on the epidemiology of infectious and chronic diseases, pharmacoepidemiology, regulatory affairs, and scientific writing.

Students can also pursue an individual investigation on their preferred subject of interest before completing a thesis or capstone practicum.

Temple University

Temple University

Online Master of Public Health in Epidemiology

The College of Public Health – Temple University offers an MPH in Epidemiology program that features core courses in biostatistics. The online MPH program meets all competencies administered by the CEPH-Council on Education for Public Health.

Apart from meeting academic excellence, the program offers a competitive level of tuition, providing students with multiple opportunities for financing their graduate studies.

What Makes This Program Unique:

As part of the MPH curriculum, students can pursue short-term study abroad courses offered during the summer term. Although the MPH program is mainly focused on Epidemiology, it intersects with the fundamentals of behavioral and social sciences, health policy, environmental health, and biostatistics. As an interdisciplinary program, graduates are prepared to work in a diverse range of settings.

Thanks to advanced epidemiologic and biostatistics studies, they have become well-prepared for doctorate programs in epidemiology. Students participate in a 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio, allowing students to collaborate with diverse faculty and peers.

Did You Know?

Temple’s Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics has a Master of Science and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology. Although both programs have a variety of similarities, each has its own unique aspects. While the M.S. program primarily focuses on epidemiology, the MPH program includes other aspects of public health, including biostatistics.

Students have a plethora of access to the university’s partner associations and faculty members, allowing them to pursue dual MPH degree programs.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Online Master of Science in Epidemiology – Biostatistics Track

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center runs an M.S. in Epidemiology program with a Biostatistics Track. Apart from the Biostatistics track, students can explore the Data Science and Clinical Investigation Tracks. The academic program is offered through the College of Graduate Health Sciences, one of the six colleges in the UTHSC.

What Makes This Program Unique:

The Biostatistics Track features a holistic set of courses that discusses the computing, applied, and theoretical areas of biostatistical science. Aspiring clinical researchers in the biostatistics field will gain essential analytical and methodological skills and knowledge.

They become proficient in interpreting different research areas and data types, data collection and analysis, and hypothesis formulation. Students can also pursue additional optional training in Data Science, Epidemiology of Childhood Diseases, Genetic Epidemiology, and Clinical Trial Methods.

Did You Know?

The university has a variety of combined degree programs with other colleges, including AuD/Ph.D., DDS/Ph.D., DNP/Ph.D., MD/Ph.D., and PharmD/Ph.D. Apart from the academic degrees, the College of Graduate Health Sciences offers three 12-credit hour certificate programs.

Students can choose from Genomic Research Training Program Certificate, Certificate in Health Care Quality Improvement, and Certificate in Clinical Investigation. If students prefer, some of the courses integrated into the certificate’s curriculum are transferrable to degree program requirements.

Claremont Graduate University

Claremont Graduate University - School of Community and Global Health

Online Master of Science in Applied Biostatistics

Claremont Graduate University’s M.S. in Applied Biostatistics program strengthens students’ data management and programming skills using state-of-the-art statistical software programs for data analysis.

With a graduate degree in applied biostatistics, graduates are prepared for a rewarding profession in health insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, universities, healthcare facilities, government agencies, and private or public health organizations.

What Makes This Program Unique:

Enrollment in the graduate program is limited and classes are small, providing students with individualized mentorship that helps them prepare for rewarding careers and expands their professional network. The academic program is practice-based, so distance learners can already start working in the field while still completing their degrees.

Did You Know?

Claremont Graduate University is an independent academic institution devoted entirely to graduate studies. It is one of the seven members of Claremont College offering in-depth campus and faculty resources. CGU is an R2: Doctoral Research University, Higher Research Activity as classified by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.

Curriculum and Courses in Masters in Biostatistics Online Programs

As its name implies, biostatistics is a combination of biology and statistics and is a scientific field where students explore more about pharmacology, genetics, biomedical research, and public health. Biostatistics students are often knowledgeable in mathematical statistics as they discover the importance of statistics in medical research, including statistical analysis, data management, and study design.

Although the M.S. in Biostatistics is the standard degree offering, many schools offer biostatistics as a concentration or specialization within the graduate program in computer science/I.T., professional studies, or public health.

Graduate students accomplish a set of coursework in biostatistics computing, experimental analysis, research design, and biostatistics theories. Depending on the college or department, students may have to complete foundational courses in mathematics, computer science, or public health. Some of the most common biostatistics core courses include:

Epidemiology

Epidemiology is a popular course or concentration integrated into the biostatistics curriculum. It teaches students the principles of study design and epidemiology and how they can be relevant to population-based evaluations and assessments. Epidemiologic investigation methods, standardization of rates, and quantitative reasoning are also part of the discussion.

Statistical Computing/Statistical Analysis

The course helps students to become proficient in using SAS statistical software programs for analytic programming and data management purposes. It features practical approaches for developing data management and analysis and computing skills for managing public health initiatives.

Principles of Biostatistics/Introduction to Biostatistics

Graduate students will have an introduction to biostatistics and essential tools used in health evaluations and research. Through this course, they participate in collaborative discussions highlighting model-building strategies, linear model assumptions, and linear modeling methods.

Career Outlook for Graduates with a Master’s in Biostatistics Degree

Completing a Master’s in Biostatistics degree is a rewarding academic and professional endeavor, providing students with several opportunities to enjoy stable career growth and lucrative income. Many graduates find work in government agencies, medical research facilities, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare facilities.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ employment outlook for mathematicians and statisticians, including biostatisticians, is at 30% between 2022 to 2032. Professionals earn an average base salary of $99,960 and can earn as much as $171,540 per year.

While the projection indicates a promising future ahead, graduates should remember that several factors affect salary potential and job availability. Professional experience, educational attainment, location, and prior credentials, as well as the current economy, all contribute to one’s job security and earning potential.

As an overview, here is a list of potential high-paying occupations that graduates with a biostatistics master’s program can pursue:

Best Online Master's in Biostatistics - fact

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Master of Public Health different from the Master of Science Degrees in Biostatistics?

Although every school has its own unique program and curriculum, the learning objectives of an MPH vs. MS degree are almost identical. While both academic programs are essential degrees, the target audience varies.

The MPH in Biostatistics is a professional degree in public health with a more in-depth focus on applied biostatistics. The academic program is mainly designed for students with a specific area of interest in public health.

It is also ideal for students or professionals who already have a graduate degree in health and life sciences or any related field and want to gain more knowledge and skills in analytic and quantitative methods for public health research. Aspiring students will no longer take foundational courses in statistics or mathematics to enroll in an MPH academic program.

The MS in Biostatistics is ideal for students with mathematical interests and who have a substantial background in mathematics or statistics. Most schools require at least one semester of linear algebra and three semesters of calculus studies. Training in probability and statistics, as well as basic statistics courses, may also be required for enrollment.

How long can students complete an Online Masters in Biostatistics?

Like most academic programs, many factors affect the length of the graduate program in biostatistics. Common factors include the number of academic credits taken, transfer credits, enrollment status, and course load.

Most biostatistics programs can be completed in 32 to 42 credit hours. Online students pursuing the full-time option can graduate within 1 to 2 years while part-time students can complete their degree in 4 years.

Some programs have a capstone requirement as part of the degree completion, making it less time to complete compared to programs with thesis requirements. Additionally, some online schools offer fast-tracked or accelerated programs that can be accomplished within 12 months.

Other schools also have dual degree programs in which students can shorten the time required to graduate with a biostatistics credential.

Summary Points

Additional Information: