by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 100 U.S. colleges awarded 1,152 degrees and certificates in Pharmacology & Toxicology. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 46% of graduates. College Factual ranks 32 schools in its 2027 Best Pharmacology & Toxicology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $58,787 one year after completing, rising to $99,222 after four years.
Are you interested in curing diseases? Do you want to help develop new drugs and chemicals to help save lives? If the answer is yes, Pharmacology and Toxicology could be the major for you.
This major involves the study of biology and biomedical sciences, as well as pharmacology and toxicology. These two topics work well together as you study drugs in pharmacology and poisons in toxicology. Both topics will focus on the chemical makeup and the interactions and effect these substances have on the body. Medicines need to balance risks and side effects with benefits.
Courses that are associated with pharmacology and toxicology are: biology, chemistry, biopharmacy, organic chemistry, physiology, risk assessment methodologies, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, food toxicology, ecology, and advanced mathematics.
Concentrations within this major include: Molecular Pharmacology, Neuropharmacology, Toxicology, Molecular Toxicology, and Environmental Toxicology among others.
Studying Pharmacology & Toxicology explores Pharmacology And Toxicology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, pharmacology & toxicology is a widely-pursued major, with 1,152 degrees awarded annually. 100 colleges award pharmacology & toxicology degrees, an average of 12 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 61.
By level, the 1,152 awards include 221 bachelor’s degrees, 531 master’s degrees and 400 doctorates.
Women earned 62% of pharmacology & toxicology degrees and certificates in the latest year (714 of 1,152). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (459) and Asian (152), and international students earned 270.
College Factual ranks 32 schools in its 2027 Best Pharmacology & Toxicology Schools ranking, including 8 for bachelor’s degrees, 17 for master’s degrees and 10 for doctorates. It also ranks pharmacology & toxicology schools within 14 states. In all, 100 colleges offer pharmacology & toxicology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Pharmacology & Toxicology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common pharmacology & toxicology credential is the master’s degree: 531 of the 1,152 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to pharmacology & toxicology call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Writing, and for knowledge of English Language, Biology and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Written Expression.
Accuracy and attention to detail is very important in this major. You will be exposed to the mechanics of making a medicine, as well as designing and testing drugs. It is very important to be accurate when testing results and side effects.
Like most biology majors, you will spend a lot of time working and researching in the laboratory. Here you will learn valuable techniques: how to conduct research, analyze your findings and report results. There will be a mixture of group work and independent projects. Work on your time management and communication skills to be able to meet deadlines and write clear and understandable reports.
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How long a pharmacology & toxicology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 221 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 531 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 400 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to pharmacology & toxicology, at 32.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 32.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 21.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 19.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 17.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.8% |
| Some college courses | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
19 occupations are related to Pharmacology & Toxicology, with an average median salary of $81,617; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include College Professor, University Faculty Member, Professor and Instructor.
You will be prepared to enter multiple different careers with this degree. Many graduates use their adept research skills to work for government, medical or environmental agencies. Others work for pharmaceutical companies testing products and writing reports. You could also continue your education to become a pharmacist, nurse, physician's assistant or doctor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to pharmacology & toxicology, at 1,335,407.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Climate Change Policy Analysts | 173,597 | 7.1% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | 159,640 | 3.9% |
Pharmacology & Toxicology graduates earn a median $58,787 one year after completing their program, $99,222 after four years and $91,829 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $58,787 |
| 4 years | $99,222 |
| 5 years | $91,829 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to pharmacology & toxicology is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $105,544 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $90,139 |
Pharmacology & Toxicology includes 8 concentrations that together award 1,152 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Pharmacology (503), Pharmacology and Toxicology (239) and Toxicology (173). It has 14 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 185,951 degrees a year; the largest are Biology, General (103,797), Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (14,729) and Neurobiology and Neurosciences (13,720). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Pharmacology | 503 |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | 239 |
| Toxicology | 173 |
| Molecular Pharmacology | 82 |
| Environmental Toxicology | 70 |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology, Other | 44 |
| Neuropharmacology | 38 |
| Molecular Toxicology | 3 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biology, General | 103,797 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 14,729 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 13,720 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 12,732 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 9,697 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 6,673 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | 4,879 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 4,738 |
| Biotechnology | 4,423 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 4,228 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
