by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 79 U.S. colleges awarded 2,572 degrees and certificates in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 68% of graduates. College Factual ranks 38 schools in its 2027 Best Pharmaceutical Sciences Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $100,478 one year after completing, rising to $136,209 after four years.
A major in Pharmaceutical Sciences involves the study of Pharmaceutical Sciences. A Program That Focuses On The Basic Sciences That Underlie Drugs And Drug Therapy And That Prepares Individuals For Further Study And/or Careers In Pharmaceutical Science And Research, Pharmaceutical Administration And Sales, Biotechnology, Drug Manufacturing, Regulatory Affairs, And Related Fields. Includes Instruction In Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Statistics, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology And Toxicology, Dosage Formulation, Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, And Regulations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, pharmaceutical sciences draws strong interest, with 2,572 degrees awarded annually. 79 colleges award pharmaceutical sciences degrees, an average of 33 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 337.
By level, the 2,572 awards include 1,759 bachelor’s degrees, 582 master’s degrees and 231 doctorates.
Women earned 66% of pharmaceutical sciences degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,699 of 2,572). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (894) and Asian (441), and international students earned 524.
College Factual ranks 38 schools in its 2027 Best Pharmaceutical Sciences Schools ranking, including 27 for bachelor’s degrees, 17 for master’s degrees and 24 for doctorates. It also ranks pharmaceutical sciences schools within 21 states. In all, 79 colleges offer pharmaceutical sciences programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Pharmaceutical Sciences Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common pharmaceutical sciences credential is the bachelor’s degree: 1,759 of the 2,572 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to pharmaceutical sciences call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Instructing, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Biology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Written Expression.
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How long a pharmaceutical sciences degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,759 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 582 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 231 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to pharmaceutical sciences, at 34.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 34.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 25.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 19.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 12.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Pharmaceutical Sciences, with an average median salary of $78,988; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Speech Therapy Teacher, Radiologic Technology Teacher, Public Health Professor and Hygiene Teacher.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to pharmaceutical sciences, at 1,335,407.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
Pharmaceutical Sciences graduates earn a median $100,478 one year after completing their program, $136,209 after four years and $140,038 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $100,478 |
| 4 years | $136,209 |
| 5 years | $140,038 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to pharmaceutical sciences is Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists, with a median salary of $111,314.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Pharmaceutical Sciences has 11 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 14,827 degrees a year; the largest are Pharmacy (11,415), Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Other (911) and Industrial and Physical Pharmacy and Cosmetic Sciences (909). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
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