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Bioinformatics

Master's

Overview

Application Requirements

Tuition & Fees

Financial Aid and Funding Opportunities

Faculty

Related Programs

Apply Request Info

Application Deadlines

Fall: January 15 (priority), April 15 (regular), rolling through August 1
Spring: n/a
Summer: n/a

School/Department

Biology

Program Director

Christopher Desjardins

Contact

gradadmissions@tufts.edu

Location

Medford/Somerville

Format

On-campus

Commitment Options

Full-time
Part-time (Daytime)

Average Duration

18 months

Credits

Tuition per Credit

$1949

Eligible for Aid/Scholarship

Yes

Overview

The MS in Bioinformatics provides students who have undergraduate experience in molecular biology and genetics with formal computational training to complement their biological knowledge. No prior programming or bioinformatics experience is required. Our curriculum emphasizes applied bioinformatics skills used in biotechnology, healthcare, environmental science, and scientific research.

Program Outcomes

As a student in the program, you’ll take a core set of required courses that will provide you with foundational competence in data analysis, statistics, programming, and computational approaches to biological research. You’ll also gain experience analyzing DNA, RNA, protein, and multi-omics datasets. The program’s flexible elective pathways then allow you to customize your degree toward biomedical applications, computational biology and AI, or ecological/evolutionary informatics based on your interests and career goals. Courses available across Tufts’ Schools of Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Nutrition, and Public Health enable a particularly broad menu of elective choices and a rich pool of potential mentors and research contexts.

You’ll gain experiential training with a required mentored capstone experience that will allow you to apply bioinformatics workflows to genuine research problems. Students can also opt to apply for our biology graduate co-op program. Tufts’ location in the Boston area provides direct access to a world-leading cluster of biotech and pharma companies, teaching hospitals, and research institutions for internships, co-ops, and employment.

Application Requirements

Application fee
Resume/CV
Personal statement
Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test scores, if applicable
- Competitive scores for this program are below:
  - TOEFL Total: 97 (or 5.0 on new 1-6 scale)
  - IELTS Total: 7
  - Duolingo Total: 125
Transcripts
Two letters of recommendation

Tuition & Fees

GSAS bills tuition using a per-credit billing model, meaning you are billed for the number of credits you take each semester. This billing model is used to provide students better flexibility so they may "pay-as-they-go".

Tuition*	$1,949 per credit
Total Credits Required	30
Enrollment Status	Part-Time: 3-6 credits (typically 1-2 courses) Full-Time: 9+ credits (typically 3 or more courses)

Estimating Tuition Costs for this Program

This example pathway outlines estimated tuition costs per semester using a typical full-time course load. This is one possible pathway to completion; actual credits, costs, enrollment status, and degree completion time may vary based on a student’s course load.

Full-Time Pathway	Fall	Spring	Total
Year 1	9 credits	9 credits	18 credits
Year 1	$17,541	$17,541	$35,082
Year 2	6 credits	6 credits	12 credits
Year 2	$11,694	$11,694	$23,388
Estimated Total Tuition Before Aid*			$58,470*

Note: this example does not account for any scholarships that may be awarded at the time of admission. GSAS offers generous merit- and need-based tuition scholarships for qualified applicants. A list of funding opportunities is provided below.

*Estimated based on 2026-2027 tuition rates. Rates are subject to change each academic year. For further information about the full cost of attendance, including health insurance, fees, and estimated indirect costs (housing, transportation, etc.), visit Student Financial Services.

Financial Aid & Funding Opportunities

At Tufts University, we believe that every qualified applicant should have the opportunity to pursue graduate study, regardless of financial circumstances. We are committed to helping you navigate the financial aspects of your education and strive to make graduate school accessible through a variety of support options.

Scholarships and Awards Available for this Program

Merit- and need-based tuition scholarships for master’s programs: To be considered, be sure to indicate your interest within the Financial Aid section of your application.
The Future Leaders Fellowship is a full-tuition scholarship for outstanding full-time master’s students and entry-level OTD students. Future Leaders Fellows are selected by the GSAS Dean following their admittance to Tufts.
Fifth Year Master's Degree Program — current Tufts Undergraduates can enroll in this program which has reduced tuition costs and provides a Financial Aid Match with a graduate tuition scholarship proportional to the undergraduate tuition award at the time of application.
City Year Corps members, alumni, and staff are eligible to receive a minimum scholarship award of 25% off tuition.

Work Opportunities and Awards

The Graduate Student Open Access Publishing Fund provides financial support to students who want to publish their work open access.
The Graduate Student Research Competition provides funding for expenses including equipment, materials, and supplies; research participant compensation; and expenses of travel to conduct research.
The Graduate Student Conference Reimbursement Fund is available for students to travel to present or attend at a conference or professional meeting.

Visit our Graduate Financial Aid page for information on loans and financing options.