by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 10 U.S. colleges awarded 83 degrees and certificates in Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 54% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $83,588 one year after completing, rising to $99,016 after four years.
Studying Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator explores Medical Illustration/medical Illustrator. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply The Principles And Techniques Of Art And Computer-Assisted Imaging, Graphics, And Animation To Create Visual Materials To Facilitate The Recording And Dissemination Of Biomedical Knowledge For Educational, Research, And Clinical Purposes. Includes Instruction In Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Histology, Embryology, Neuroanatomy, Medical Terminology, Artistic Media And Techniques, Illustration Techniques, Three-Dimensional Modeling, Prosthetics, Data Display Design, Exhibit Design And Production, Medical Photography, Multimedia, Computer Graphics And Animation, Digital Imaging, Business Management, Production Technology, And Instructional Design.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., medical illustration/medical illustrator draws strong interest, with 83 degrees awarded annually. 10 colleges award medical illustration/medical illustrator degrees, an average of 8 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 20.
By level, the 83 awards include 45 bachelor’s degrees and 38 master’s degrees.
Women earned 88% of medical illustration/medical illustrator degrees and certificates in the latest year (73 of 83). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (57) and Asian (12), and international students earned 1.
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator Schools ranking, including 1 for master’s degrees. It also ranks medical illustration/medical illustrator schools within 1 state. In all, 10 colleges offer medical illustration/medical illustrator programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common medical illustration/medical illustrator credential is the bachelor’s degree: 45 of the 83 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to medical illustration/medical illustrator call most for Critical Thinking, Active Learning and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Design, Computers and Electronics and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Originality, Fluency of Ideas and Visualization.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a medical illustration/medical illustrator degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 45 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 38 |
Some college courses is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to medical illustration/medical illustrator, at 37.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Some college courses | 37.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 27.3% |
| First professional degree | 0.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator, with an average median salary of $69,338. Typical job titles include Sports Cartoonist, Quick Sketch Artist, Mural Painter and Set Illustrator.
The occupation related to medical illustration/medical illustrator with the most projected jobs is Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators, at 147,527.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | 147,527 | -4.1% |
Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator graduates earn a median $83,588 one year after completing their program, $99,016 after four years and $93,260 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $83,588 |
| 4 years | $99,016 |
| 5 years | $93,260 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to medical illustration/medical illustrator, with a median salary of $69,338.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $69,338 |
Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator has 2 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 3,679 degrees a year; the largest are Medical Informatics (3,674) and Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other (5). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Medical Informatics | 3,674 |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other | 5 |
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