In the latest year, 13 U.S. colleges awarded 82 degrees and certificates in Molecular Pharmacology. Doctorates are the most popular award, at 59% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Molecular Pharmacology 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.
Studying Molecular Pharmacology involves the study of Molecular Pharmacology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Biochemical And Biophysical Characteristics Of Drugs At The Molecular Level And Their Interaction With, And Effects On, Biological Macromolecules And Cellular Structures And Processes. Includes Instruction In Molecular Biology And Biophysics; Pharmacology Of Signal Transduction, Transmitters, And Protein Synthesis And Release; Receptors, Protein Interaction And Binding; Drug Discovery And Recognition; Molecular Toxicology; Drug Design; Pharmacodynamics; Developmental Genetics; And Studies Of Therapeutic Strategies.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, molecular pharmacology is a popular field of study, with 82 degrees awarded annually. 13 colleges award molecular pharmacology degrees, an average of 6 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 19.
By level, the 82 awards include 34 master’s degrees and 48 doctorates.
Women earned 66% of molecular pharmacology degrees and certificates in the latest year (54 of 82). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (28) and Asian (9), and international students earned 31.
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Molecular Pharmacology Schools ranking, including 1 for master’s degrees and 1 for doctorates. It also ranks molecular pharmacology schools within 3 states. In all, 13 colleges offer molecular pharmacology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Molecular Pharmacology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common molecular pharmacology credential is the doctorate: 48 of the 82 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to molecular pharmacology call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Instructing, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Biology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Written Expression.
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How long a molecular pharmacology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 34 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 48 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to molecular pharmacology, at 34.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 34.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 25.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 19.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 12.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Molecular Pharmacology, with an average median salary of $78,988; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Roentgenology Teacher, Hygiene Teacher, Gastroenterology Teacher and Anatomy Teacher.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to molecular pharmacology, at 1,335,407.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
Molecular Pharmacology 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 molecular pharmacology is Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists, with a median salary of $111,314.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Molecular Pharmacology has 7 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 1,070 degrees a year; the largest are Pharmacology (503), Pharmacology and Toxicology (239) and Toxicology (173). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Pharmacology | 503 |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | 239 |
| Toxicology | 173 |
| Environmental Toxicology | 70 |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology, Other | 44 |
| Neuropharmacology | 38 |
| Molecular Toxicology | 3 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.