by our College Data Analytics Team
[Medicine](/majors/health-care-professions/medicine/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying medicine schools.
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If you want to know which schools send medicine graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Ohio University Main Campus tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying medicine schools in the Great Lakes Region. Ohio University Main Campus is a public school located in the town of Athens. Early-career medicine graduates from Ohio University Main Campus make a median of around $243,013 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Oakland University earned it the #2 place for medicine. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a public institution. Students who complete the medicine program here go on to a median salary of roughly $132,561.
Michigan State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in medicine, landing the #3 spot this year. Michigan State University is a public school located in the city of East Lansing. Medicine graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of about $208,932 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes Southern Illinois University Carbondale one of the highest-paying schools for medicine. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution. Early-career medicine graduates from Southern Illinois University Carbondale make a median of around $206,035 per year.
University Of Wisconsin Madison produces some of the highest-paid graduates in medicine, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. After graduating, medicine degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison typically earn about $191,376 annually.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #6 for medicine graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. Students who complete the medicine program here go on to a median salary of roughly $179,069.
Wayne State University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for medicine. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a public institution. Early-career medicine graduates from Wayne State University make a median of around $176,598 per year.
Medical College Of Wisconsin came in at #8 for medicine graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Milwaukee, Medical College Of Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the medicine program here go on to a median salary of roughly $164,369.
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying medicine schools. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public school located in the city of Chicago. After graduating, medicine degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago typically earn about $161,284 annually.
University Of Toledo landed the #10 spot for medicine salaries this year. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a public institution. Students who complete the medicine program here go on to a median salary of roughly $163,530.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #11 for medicine graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Medicine graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of about $158,574 a year early in their careers.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #12 for medicine graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Medicine graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of about $158,548 a year early in their careers.
Rush University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying medicine schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Rush University is a private not-for-profit institution. Medicine graduates of Rush University earn a median of about $151,344 a year early in their careers.
University Of Chicago placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for medicine. University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students who complete the medicine program here go on to a median salary of roughly $143,277.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #15 position for medicine graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. Students who complete the medicine program here go on to a median salary of roughly $134,187.
Northwestern University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying medicine schools. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Early-career medicine graduates from Northwestern University make a median of around $132,646 per year.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #17 position for medicine graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a public institution. Students who complete the medicine program here go on to a median salary of roughly $137,517.
Case Western Reserve University earned the #18 position for medicine graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the medicine program here go on to a median salary of roughly $119,638.
Northeast Ohio Medical University earned the #19 position for medicine graduate earnings this year. Northeast Ohio Medical University is a public school located in the suburb of Rootstown. After graduating, medicine degree recipients from Northeast Ohio Medical University typically earn about $69,664 annually.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying medicine schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the medicine program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,906.
Central Michigan University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying medicine schools. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a public institution. After graduating, medicine degree recipients from Central Michigan University typically earn about $63,654 annually.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries medicine graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 21 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.