by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 16 U.S. colleges awarded 137 degrees and certificates in Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 56% of graduates. College Factual ranks 6 schools in its 2027 Best Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $43,086 one year after completing, rising to $50,767 after four years.
Studying Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist covers Cytotechnology/cytotechnologist. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Work With Pathologists To Detect Changes In Body Cells That May Indicate, And Permit Diagnosis Of, The Early Development Of Cancers And Other Diseases. Includes Instruction In Biochemistry, Microbiology, Applied Mathematics, Microscopy, Slide Preparation, Identification Of Cellular Structures And Abnormalities, And Laboratory Procedures And Safety.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, cytotechnology/cytotechnologist draws strong interest, with 137 degrees awarded annually. 16 colleges award cytotechnology/cytotechnologist degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 29.
By level, the 137 awards include 6 certificates, 27 associate degrees, 27 bachelor’s degrees and 77 master’s degrees.
Women earned 88% of cytotechnology/cytotechnologist degrees and certificates in the latest year (120 of 137). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (76) and Hispanic or Latino (22), and international students earned 4.
College Factual ranks 6 schools in its 2027 Best Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist Schools ranking, including 2 for associate degrees, 3 for bachelor’s degrees and 1 for master’s degrees. It also ranks cytotechnology/cytotechnologist schools within 3 states. In all, 16 colleges offer cytotechnology/cytotechnologist programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common cytotechnology/cytotechnologist credential is the master’s degree: 77 of the 137 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to cytotechnology/cytotechnologist call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Medicine and Dentistry, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Near Vision and Oral Comprehension.
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How long a cytotechnology/cytotechnologist degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 6 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 27 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 27 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 77 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to cytotechnology/cytotechnologist, at 49.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 49.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 19.2% |
| Master’s degree | 11.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 3.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.9% |
| Some college courses | 1.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.0% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist, with an average median salary of $112,140; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Cytologist, Medical Technologist (MT), Cytology Coordinator and Cytotechnologist.
The occupation related to cytotechnology/cytotechnologist with the most projected jobs is Cytotechnologists, at 2,585,436.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cytotechnologists | 2,585,436 | 10.3% |
| Cytogenetic Technologists | 2,100,694 | 1.9% |
| Histotechnologists | 1,678,341 | 4.1% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists | 678,933 | 3.9% |
Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist graduates earn a median $43,086 one year after completing their program, $50,767 after four years and $45,731 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,086 |
| 4 years | $50,767 |
| 5 years | $45,731 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to cytotechnology/cytotechnologist, with a median salary of $155,812.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Cytotechnologists | $155,812 |
| Cytogenetic Technologists | $155,361 |
| Histotechnologists | $125,527 |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists | $77,339 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist has 12 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 22,325 degrees a year; the largest are Phlebotomy Technician/Phlebotomist (10,645), Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist (4,179) and Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technician (3,375). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
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