by our College Data Analytics Team
[Medicine](/majors/health-care-professions/medicine/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find where medicine graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose medicine graduates go on to earn the most.
University Of South Dakota earned the #1 spot for highest-paid medicine graduates in the The Plains States Region. University Of South Dakota is a public school located in the town of Vermillion. Early-career medicine graduates from University Of South Dakota make a median of around $221,069 per year.
Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying medicine schools. Located in the rural area of West Des Moines, Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, medicine degree recipients from Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center typically earn about $230,347 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at A T Still University Of Health Sciences earned it the #3 place for medicine. Set in the town of Kirksville, A T Still University Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the medicine program here go on to a median salary of roughly $228,706.
Students chasing top earnings in medicine will find them at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, which ranked #4. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public school located in the city of Minneapolis. After graduating, medicine degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities typically earn about $205,382 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Nebraska Medical Center earned it the #5 place for medicine. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska Medical Center is a public institution. Students who complete the medicine program here go on to a median salary of roughly $203,229.
Kansas City University Of Medicine And Biosciences ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying medicine schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City University Of Medicine And Biosciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Medicine graduates of Kansas City University Of Medicine And Biosciences earn a median of about $190,556 a year early in their careers.
Creighton University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for medicine. Creighton University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Omaha. After graduating, medicine degree recipients from Creighton University typically earn about $180,260 annually.
University Of Kansas landed the #8 spot for medicine salaries this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a public institution. Medicine graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of about $183,730 a year early in their careers.
University Of Iowa landed the #9 spot for medicine salaries this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a public institution. Students who complete the medicine program here go on to a median salary of roughly $178,334.
Mayo Medical School placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for medicine. Located in the city of Rochester, Mayo Medical School is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, medicine degree recipients from Mayo Medical School typically earn about $175,294 annually.
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #11 position for medicine graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. Early-career medicine graduates from University Of Missouri Columbia make a median of around $158,239 per year.
Washington University In St Louis came in at #12 for medicine graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career medicine graduates from Washington University In St Louis make a median of around $152,246 per year.
University Of Missouri Kansas City landed the #13 spot for medicine salaries this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a public institution. Students who complete the medicine program here go on to a median salary of roughly $130,195.
University Of North Dakota landed the #14 spot for medicine salaries this year. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. After graduating, medicine degree recipients from University Of North Dakota typically earn about $66,463 annually.
Saint Louis University Main Campus placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for medicine. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. Students who complete the medicine program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,402.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their medicine graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 15 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.