by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator explores Medical Illustration/medical Illustrator. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply The Principles And Techniques Of Art And Computer-Assisted Imaging, Graphics, And Animation To Create Visual Materials To Facilitate The Recording And Dissemination Of Biomedical Knowledge For Educational, Research, And Clinical Purposes. Includes Instruction In Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Histology, Embryology, Neuroanatomy, Medical Terminology, Artistic Media And Techniques, Illustration Techniques, Three-Dimensional Modeling, Prosthetics, Data Display Design, Exhibit Design And Production, Medical Photography, Multimedia, Computer Graphics And Animation, Digital Imaging, Business Management, Production Technology, And Instructional Design. Continue reading for the important information every medical illustration/medical illustrator major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering medical illustration/medical illustrator programs.
In the U.S., medical illustration/medical illustrator draws strong interest, with 94 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator Schools ranking analyzes these 10 schools to determine the best overall colleges for medical illustration/medical illustrator students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of medical illustration/medical illustrator programs later in this article.
Studies in Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations medical illustration/medical illustrator graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a medical illustration/medical illustrator program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a medical illustration/medical illustrator major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several medical illustration/medical illustrator 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 46 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 48 |
People currently working in careers related to medical illustration/medical illustrator tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Some college courses | 37.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 27.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.3% |
| First professional degree | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in medical illustration/medical illustrator careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in medical illustration/medical illustrator can lead to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to medical illustration/medical illustrator.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to medical illustration/medical illustrator.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | 147,527 | -4.1% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of medical illustration/medical illustrator graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $83,588 |
| 4 years | $85,034 |
| 5 years | $93,260 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for medical illustration/medical illustrator graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers medical illustration/medical illustrator grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $69,338 |
With 10 different medical illustration/medical illustrator programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased medical illustration/medical illustrator school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in medical illustration/medical illustrator, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Medical Informatics | 3,054 |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other | 6 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
