by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 256 U.S. colleges awarded 12,732 degrees and certificates in Physiology & Pathology Sciences. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 73% of graduates. College Factual ranks 168 schools in its 2027 Best Physiology & Pathology Sciences Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $31,856 one year after completing, rising to $64,772 after four years.
Pathology and Physiology are both subjects that focus on cells and the body and so are often studied together. In Pathology you will learn about the causes and progress of disease or injury in people. In Physiology you will learn about mechanical and biochemical process of the body and can focus on one specific body part or system. Studying both of these topics has exciting implications. As you dive deeper into the material you will learn valuable information about how to prevent disease and improve human life.
Courses that you will take to increase your knowledge are: biology, chemistry, physiology, pathology, advanced mathematics, microbiology, genetics, reproduction, and molecular biology. There will be a lot of labs in your coursework, allowing you to gain hands-on experience and participate in experiments.
he ability to choose a concentration is available at some schools. Some of these concentrations are: General Physiology, Molecular Physiology, Cell Physiology, Endocrinology, Reproductive Biology, Cardiovascular Science, Exercise Physiology, Vision Science, Pathology, Oncology and Cancer Biology, and Aerospace Physiology and Medicine.
Studying Physiology & Pathology Sciences explores Physiology, Pathology And Related Sciences.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, physiology & pathology sciences is a popular field of study, with 12,732 degrees awarded annually. 256 colleges award physiology & pathology sciences degrees, an average of 50 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 424.
By level, the 12,732 awards include 13 certificates, 95 associate degrees, 9,344 bachelor’s degrees, 2,583 master’s degrees and 697 doctorates.
Women earned 61% of physiology & pathology sciences degrees and certificates in the latest year (7,811 of 12,732). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (7,189) and Hispanic or Latino (1,865), and international students earned 846.
College Factual ranks 168 schools in its 2027 Best Physiology & Pathology Sciences Schools ranking, including 118 for bachelor’s degrees, 65 for master’s degrees and 21 for doctorates. It also ranks physiology & pathology sciences schools within 36 states. In all, 256 colleges offer physiology & pathology sciences programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Physiology & Pathology Sciences Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common physiology & pathology sciences credential is the bachelor’s degree: 9,344 of the 12,732 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to physiology & pathology sciences call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Writing, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
A passion for your topic of study will help you through difficult coursework. Be confident with your skills, but ready to ask for help if you get stuck. Work on your time management skills in order to juggle multiple science and math classes and labs at the same time. This is a rewarding and exciting topic when you master it.
Classes and lab work will teach you how to analyze data and information. Students will be required to memorize formulas and then put them into practice through experiments. You will be spending a lot of time in lab often working closely with a lab partner. Interpersonal skills are helpful when working with your peers and your professors.
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How long a physiology & pathology sciences degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 13 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 95 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 9,344 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,583 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 697 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to physiology & pathology sciences, at 27.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 27.4% |
| Master’s degree | 22.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 21.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 21.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| Some college courses | 0.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
13 occupations are related to Physiology & Pathology Sciences, with an average median salary of $96,051; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Faculty Member and College Faculty Member.
Some graduates continue their education to receive Medical degrees or another advanced degree. However, there are also options for grads who want to go straight into a career. Those more interested in physiology could easily do research for a drug company or become an exercise physiologist and work with people to help improve their health. Your skills in the field of pathology will enable you to work in medical fields as a researcher or medical writer. Graduates could also find work in government, education or private businesses.
The occupation related to physiology & pathology sciences with the most projected jobs is Exercise Physiologists, at 1,771,772.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Physiologists | 1,771,772 | 1.7% |
| 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% |
Physiology & Pathology Sciences graduates earn a median $31,856 one year after completing their program, $64,772 after four years and $65,457 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $31,856 |
| 4 years | $64,772 |
| 5 years | $65,457 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to physiology & pathology sciences is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Exercise Physiologists | $144,072 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $107,979 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
Physiology & Pathology Sciences includes 13 concentrations that together award 12,732 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology (8,412), Physiology, General (3,053) and Pathology/Experimental Pathology (310). It has 14 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 174,371 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.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biology, General | 103,797 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 14,729 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 13,720 |
| 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 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 3,447 |
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