by our College Data Analytics TeamPathology and Physiology are both subjects that focus on cells and the body and so are often studied together. In Pathology you will learn about the causes and progress of disease or injury in people. In Physiology you will learn about mechanical and biochemical process of the body and can focus on one specific body part or system. Studying both of these topics has exciting implications. As you dive deeper into the material you will learn valuable information about how to prevent disease and improve human life.
Courses that you will take to increase your knowledge are: biology, chemistry, physiology, pathology, advanced mathematics, microbiology, genetics, reproduction, and molecular biology. There will be a lot of labs in your coursework, allowing you to gain hands-on experience and participate in experiments.
he ability to choose a concentration is available at some schools. Some of these concentrations are: General Physiology, Molecular Physiology, Cell Physiology, Endocrinology, Reproductive Biology, Cardiovascular Science, Exercise Physiology, Vision Science, Pathology, Oncology and Cancer Biology, and Aerospace Physiology and Medicine.
Studying Physiology & Pathology Sciences explores Physiology, Pathology And Related Sciences. Continue reading for the important information every physiology & pathology sciences student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering physiology & pathology sciences programs.
Across the country, physiology & pathology sciences is a popular field of study, with 11,175 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Physiology & Pathology Sciences Schools ranking analyzes these 251 schools to determine the best overall colleges for physiology & pathology sciences students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of physiology & pathology sciences programs later in this article.
Studies in Physiology & Pathology Sciences develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations physiology & pathology sciences graduates commonly enter.
A passion for your topic of study will help you through difficult coursework. Be confident with your skills, but ready to ask for help if you get stuck. Work on your time management skills in order to juggle multiple science and math classes and labs at the same time. This is a rewarding and exciting topic when you master it.
Classes and lab work will teach you how to analyze data and information. Students will be required to memorize formulas and then put them into practice through experiments. You will be spending a lot of time in lab often working closely with a lab partner. Interpersonal skills are helpful when working with your peers and your professors.
The skill set built by a physiology & pathology sciences program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a physiology & pathology sciences major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several physiology & pathology sciences degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 93 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 8,087 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,329 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 666 |
People currently working in careers related to physiology & pathology sciences tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 27.4% |
| Master’s degree | 22.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 21.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 21.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| Some college courses | 0.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in physiology & pathology sciences careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Some graduates continue their education to receive Medical degrees or another advanced degree. However, there are also options for grads who want to go straight into a career. Those more interested in physiology could easily do research for a drug company or become an exercise physiologist and work with people to help improve their health. Your skills in the field of pathology will enable you to work in medical fields as a researcher or medical writer. Graduates could also find work in government, education or private businesses.
Majoring in physiology & pathology sciences can lead to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to physiology & pathology sciences.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to physiology & pathology sciences.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Physiologists | 1,771,772 | 1.7% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of physiology & pathology sciences graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,024 |
| 4 years | $53,598 |
| 5 years | $65,802 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for physiology & pathology sciences graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers physiology & pathology sciences grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Exercise Physiologists | $144,072 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $107,979 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
With 251 different physiology & pathology sciences programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased physiology & pathology sciences school rankings to help you.
Students interested in physiology & pathology sciences, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology | 7,132 |
| Physiology, General | 2,816 |
| Pathology/Experimental Pathology | 306 |
| Vision Science/Physiological Optics | 269 |
| Oncology and Cancer Biology | 193 |
| Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences, Other | 148 |
| Biomechanics | 62 |
| Cardiovascular Science | 62 |
| Molecular Physiology | 52 |
| Cell Physiology | 51 |
| Aerospace Physiology and Medicine | 40 |
| Reproductive Biology | 29 |
| Endocrinology | 15 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biology, General | 101,585 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 13,820 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 12,819 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 9,295 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 6,355 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 4,711 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | 4,612 |
| Biotechnology | 3,869 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 3,638 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 3,408 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
