[Bioinformatics](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/biomathematics-bioinformatics-computational-biology/bioinformatics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong bioinformatics education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for bioinformatics students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in bioinformatics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is George Mason University, our #1 best value for bioinformatics in Virginia. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,220 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for bioinformatics graduates is $23,529. Bioinformatics graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $63,131 early in their careers. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Virginia Commonwealth University earned it the #2 place for bioinformatics. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, while out-of-state students pay about $39,884. Bioinformatics graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Bioinformatics graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $57,000 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
