by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Medical Science explores Medical Clinical Sciences/graduate Medical Studies. Read on to learn the essential details every medical science student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering medical science programs.
In the U.S., medical science is a popular field of study, with 1,163 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Medical Science Schools ranking analyzes these 80 schools to determine the best overall colleges for medical science students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of medical science programs later in this article.
Programs in Medical Science build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations medical science graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a medical science program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a medical science major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several medical science 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 | 8 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 900 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 255 |
People currently working in careers related to medical science tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-doctoral training | 47.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 35.3% |
| Master’s degree | 6.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.5% |
| First professional degree | 2.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.6% |
| Some college courses | 0.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in medical science careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in medical science can lead to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to medical science.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to medical science.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitalists | 3,061,067 | 0.8% |
| Urologists | 3,002,712 | 0.5% |
| Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians | 2,353,696 | 14.6% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Preventive Medicine Physicians | 1,095,800 | 4.1% |
| Allergists and Immunologists | 709,371 | 5.0% |
| Sports Medicine Physicians | 653,682 | 2.7% |
| Physicians, All Other | 564,263 | 8.0% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of medical science graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $160,729 |
| 4 years | $166,630 |
| 5 years | $197,894 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for medical science graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers medical science grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Urologists | $119,720 |
| Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians | $117,397 |
| Sports Medicine Physicians | $115,792 |
| Hospitalists | $114,577 |
| Preventive Medicine Physicians | $113,531 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
With 80 different medical science programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased medical science school rankings to help you.
Those considering medical science, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
