by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 84 U.S. colleges awarded 1,223 degrees and certificates in Medical Science. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 75% of graduates. College Factual ranks 38 schools in its 2027 Best Medical Science Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $160,729 one year after completing, rising to $197,150 after four years.
A degree in Medical Science explores Medical Clinical Sciences/graduate Medical Studies.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., medical science is a popular field of study, with 1,223 degrees awarded annually. 84 colleges award medical science degrees, an average of 15 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 156.
By level, the 1,223 awards include 11 bachelor’s degrees, 920 master’s degrees and 292 doctorates.
Women earned 65% of medical science degrees and certificates in the latest year (793 of 1,223). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (573) and Asian (154), and international students earned 144.
College Factual ranks 38 schools in its 2027 Best Medical Science Schools ranking, including 31 for master’s degrees and 4 for doctorates. It also ranks medical science schools within 17 states. In all, 84 colleges offer medical science programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Medical Science Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common medical science credential is the master’s degree: 920 of the 1,223 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to medical science call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Medicine and Dentistry, Biology and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Inductive Reasoning and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a medical science degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 11 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 920 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 292 |
Post-doctoral training is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to medical science, at 47.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-doctoral training | 47.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 35.3% |
| Master’s degree | 6.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.5% |
| First professional degree | 2.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.6% |
| Some college courses | 0.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
14 occupations are related to Medical Science, with an average median salary of $109,422; the strongest outlook belongs to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians, at 14.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Physician, MD (Medical Doctor), DO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician) and Hospitalist Physician.
The occupation related to medical science with the most projected jobs is Hospitalists, at 3,061,067.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitalists | 3,061,067 | 0.8% |
| Urologists | 3,002,712 | 0.5% |
| Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians | 2,353,696 | 14.6% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Preventive Medicine Physicians | 1,095,800 | 4.1% |
| Allergists and Immunologists | 709,371 | 5.0% |
| Sports Medicine Physicians | 653,682 | 2.7% |
| Physicians, All Other | 564,263 | 8.0% |
Medical Science graduates earn a median $160,729 one year after completing their program, $197,150 after four years and $197,894 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $160,729 |
| 4 years | $197,150 |
| 5 years | $197,894 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to medical science 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 |
| Urologists | $119,720 |
| Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians | $117,397 |
| Sports Medicine Physicians | $115,792 |
| Hospitalists | $114,577 |
| Preventive Medicine Physicians | $113,531 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
Medical Science includes 4 concentrations that together award 1,223 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Medical Science/Scientist (1,070), Clinical and Translational Science (90) and Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies, Other (57). It has 30 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 1,036,237 degrees a year; the largest are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (318,053), Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (110,132) and Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (98,474). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
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