by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 28 U.S. colleges awarded 173 degrees and certificates in Toxicology. Doctorates are the most popular award, at 40% of graduates. College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best 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.
Studying Toxicology covers Toxicology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Poisons And Other Biohazards; Their Interactions With Organisms And Their Food And Respiratory Systems; And Their Prevention, Management, And Counteraction. Includes Instruction In Toxicological Biochemistry, Toxic Agents And Transporters, Toxin Fate, Toxicokinetics And Metabolism, Toxin Classification, Molecular Toxic Mechanisms, Extracellular Matrices And Cell Function, Bacterial Pathogenesis And Mutagenesis, Pathophysiology And Apoptosis, Cell Stress And Injury, Studies Of Specific Toxins, And Studies Of Specific Organ Systems And Physiological Functions In Relation To Toxicological Problems.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., toxicology is a widely-pursued major, with 173 degrees awarded annually. 28 colleges award toxicology degrees, an average of 6 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 24.
By level, the 173 awards include 45 bachelor’s degrees, 58 master’s degrees and 70 doctorates.
Women earned 74% of toxicology degrees and certificates in the latest year (128 of 173). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (84) and Hispanic or Latino (20), and international students earned 24.
College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Toxicology Schools ranking, including 2 for bachelor’s degrees, 1 for master’s degrees and 1 for doctorates. It also ranks toxicology schools within 3 states. In all, 28 colleges offer toxicology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Toxicology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common toxicology credential is the doctorate: 70 of the 173 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to 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.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a toxicology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 45 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 58 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 70 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to toxicology, at 29.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 29.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 23.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 18.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 17.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.5% |
| Some college courses | 1.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
| First professional degree | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
15 occupations are related to Toxicology, with an average median salary of $85,193; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Professor, Lecturer, Instructor and Faculty Member.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to 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% |
| Industrial Ecologists | 136,627 | 8.5% |
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 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 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $90,139 |
| Industrial Ecologists | $83,212 |
Toxicology has 7 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 979 degrees a year; the largest are Pharmacology (503), Pharmacology and Toxicology (239) and Molecular Pharmacology (82). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Pharmacology | 503 |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | 239 |
| Molecular Pharmacology | 82 |
| Environmental Toxicology | 70 |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology, Other | 44 |
| Neuropharmacology | 38 |
| Molecular Toxicology | 3 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
