by our College Data Analytics TeamMedicine was the 42nd most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 20,665 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 2.9% increase in medicine degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 20,073.
Our 2023 Best Medicine Schools ranking analyzes 132 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for medicine students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of medicine programs later in this article.
A major in medicine prepares you for careers in which using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems is crucial. Required skills include giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most medicine degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional medicine certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Medicine degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in medicine to the highest medicine degree, a . The type of medicine degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to medicine, with approximately 65.4% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to medicine tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 65.4% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 31.1% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 3.5% |
96.5% of medicine workers have at least a doctorate. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in medicine careers have.
This of course varies depending on which medicine career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your medicine degree? Medicine careers are expected to grow 12.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to medicine.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Physicians and Surgeons | 414,700 | 11.4% |
| Family and General Practitioners | 154,100 | 14.3% |
As you might expect, salaries for medicine graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for medicine graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers medicine grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Family and General Practitioners | $211,780 |
| Physicians and Surgeons | $203,880 |
With over 152 different medicine degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased medicine school rankings to help you with this.
One of 1 majors within the Medicine area of study, Medicine has other similar majors worth exploring.
