by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 53 U.S. colleges awarded 503 degrees and certificates in Pharmacology. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 44% of graduates. College Factual ranks 15 schools in its 2027 Best 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 Pharmacology involves the study of Pharmacology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Drug Interactions On Biological Systems And Organisms And The Sources, Chemical Properties, Biological Effects, And Therapeutic Uses Of Drugs. Includes Instruction In Pharmacodynamics, Pharmacokinetics, Toxicology, Drug Therapeutics, Drug Action, Bodily Responses To Drug Events, Biochemical Proliferation And Differentiation, Apoptosis, Cell Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, And Studies Of Specific Drugs And Drug Interactions.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, pharmacology is a popular field of study, with 503 degrees awarded annually. 53 colleges award pharmacology degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 58.
By level, the 503 awards include 69 bachelor’s degrees, 221 master’s degrees and 213 doctorates.
Women earned 58% of pharmacology degrees and certificates in the latest year (294 of 503). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (204) and Asian (76), and international students earned 98.
College Factual ranks 15 schools in its 2027 Best Pharmacology Schools ranking, including 2 for bachelor’s degrees, 9 for master’s degrees and 5 for doctorates. It also ranks pharmacology schools within 8 states. In all, 53 colleges offer pharmacology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Pharmacology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common pharmacology credential is the master’s degree: 221 of the 503 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to pharmacology 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.
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How long a pharmacology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 69 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 221 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 213 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to pharmacology, at 25.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 25.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 23.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 20.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 19.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.3% |
| Some college courses | 1.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
11 occupations are related to Pharmacology, with an average median salary of $90,601; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Faculty Member, College Faculty Member, Lecturer and Associate Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to pharmacology, 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% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
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 pharmacology 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 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
Pharmacology has 7 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 649 degrees a year; the largest are Pharmacology and Toxicology (239), Toxicology (173) and Molecular Pharmacology (82). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | 239 |
| Toxicology | 173 |
| Molecular Pharmacology | 82 |
| Environmental Toxicology | 70 |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology, Other | 44 |
| Neuropharmacology | 38 |
| Molecular Toxicology | 3 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
