by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 7 U.S. colleges awarded 33 degrees and certificates in Cell Physiology. Doctorates are the most popular award, at 48% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Cell Physiology 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.
A major in Cell Physiology covers Cell Physiology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Physiological Processes Operating Within And Among Cells, And Intracellular Communication And Behavior, In The Context Of Larger Systems And Whole Organisms. Includes Instruction In Cell And Molecular Biology, Molecular Physiology, Cell Cycle Control, Signal Transduction, Protein Structure, Membrane Biochemistry And Structure, Ion Channel Physics, Cell Respiration And Digestion, Secretory Functions, Cell Adhesion And Communication, Information Encoding And Decoding, And The Relation Of Cell Physiology To Tissue, Organ, And Organismic Functioning.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, cell physiology is a widely-pursued major, with 33 degrees awarded annually. 7 colleges award cell physiology degrees, an average of 5 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 13.
By level, the 33 awards include 5 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees and 16 doctorates.
Women earned 70% of cell physiology degrees and certificates in the latest year (23 of 33). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (15) and Hispanic or Latino (7), and international students earned 4.
College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Cell Physiology Schools ranking. It also ranks cell physiology schools within 1 state. In all, 7 colleges offer cell physiology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Cell Physiology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common cell physiology credential is the doctorate: 16 of the 33 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to cell physiology call most for Speaking, Writing and Active Learning, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Chemistry, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Expression and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a cell physiology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 5 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 12 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 16 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to cell physiology, at 44.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 44.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 34.2% |
| Master’s degree | 15.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 2.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Cell Physiology, with an average median salary of $76,181; the strongest outlook belongs to Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists, at 8.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Physiology Instructor, Embryology Teacher, Science Professor and Herpetology Teacher.
The occupation related to cell physiology with the most projected jobs is Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 276,211.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
Cell Physiology 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 same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to cell physiology, with a median salary of $111,314.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $41,048 |
Cell Physiology has 12 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 12,699 degrees a year; the largest are Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology (8,412), Physiology, General (3,053) and Pathology/Experimental Pathology (310). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology | 8,412 |
| Physiology, General | 3,053 |
| Pathology/Experimental Pathology | 310 |
| Oncology and Cancer Biology | 235 |
| Vision Science/Physiological Optics | 219 |
| Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences, Other | 218 |
| Biomechanics | 70 |
| Cardiovascular Science | 61 |
| Molecular Physiology | 44 |
| Aerospace Physiology and Medicine | 40 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
