Medicine: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Prepared for the independent practice of medicine, this rigorous academic pathway equips learners with the comprehensive knowledge and clinical expertise required to prevent, diagnose, and treat a broad spectrum of human health conditions. Grounded in scientific inquiry and patient-centered care, the program fosters the development of skilled, ethically grounded physicians capable of delivering high-quality medical services across diverse clinical settings.
- Basic Medical Sciences: Foundational study of human anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and pathology to understand the biological basis of health and disease.
- Clinical Medicine: Application of medical knowledge in real-world patient care, emphasizing evidence-based decision-making and diagnostic reasoning.
- Physical Examination and Diagnostic Techniques: Mastery of clinical skills for systematic patient assessment, including history-taking, physical exams, and interpretation of diagnostic tests.
- Patient Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Development of effective, empathetic communication strategies to build trust, convey complex information, and support patient autonomy.
- Medical Ethics and Law: Exploration of ethical dilemmas, patient rights, confidentiality, informed consent, and legal responsibilities within healthcare practice.
- Professional Standards and Practice: Training in accountability, lifelong learning, quality improvement, and adherence to national and institutional medical guidelines.
- Clinical Rotations in Core Specialties: Hands-on experience across key disciplines including internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, neurology, ophthalmology, radiology, clinical pathology, anesthesiology, family medicine, and psychiatry.
Medicine Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Medicine Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Medicine degrees, including Cardiologists, Surgeons, All Other and Pediatric Surgeons. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 778,470 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiologists 29-1212 | $239,200 | $119,970 - $239,200 | 18,020 | $115.00 |
| Surgeons, All Other 29-1249 | $239,200 | $77,290 - $239,200 | 24,080 | $115.00 |
| Pediatric Surgeons 29-1243 | $239,200 | $189,720 - $239,200 | 1,050 | $115.00 |
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric 29-1242 | $239,200 | $83,390 - $239,200 | 14,160 | $115.00 |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric 29-1241 | $239,200 | $104,240 - $239,200 | 12,110 | $115.00 |
| Physicians, All Other 29-1229 | $239,200 | $66,860 - $239,200 | 315,360 | $115.00 |
| Radiologists 29-1224 | $239,200 | $82,810 - $239,200 | 26,290 | $115.00 |
| Psychiatrists 29-1223 | $239,200 | $77,360 - $239,200 | 24,800 | $115.00 |
| Physicians, Pathologists 29-1222 | $239,200 | $83,930 - $239,200 | 11,800 | $115.00 |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists 29-1218 | $239,200 | $94,750 - $239,200 | 19,900 | $115.00 |
| Neurologists 29-1217 | $239,200 | $83,500 - $239,200 | 7,700 | $115.00 |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians 29-1214 | $239,200 | $114,680 - $239,200 | 33,680 | $115.00 |
| Dermatologists 29-1213 | $239,200 | $118,540 - $239,200 | 10,080 | $115.00 |
| Anesthesiologists 29-1211 | $239,200 | $124,450 - $239,200 | 41,890 | $115.00 |
| Family Medicine Physicians 29-1215 | $238,380 | $81,330 - $239,200 | 107,950 | $114.61 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians 29-1216 | $236,350 | $70,100 - $239,200 | 66,640 | $113.63 |
| Pediatricians, General 29-1221 | $210,130 | $96,240 - $239,200 | 42,960 | $101.03 |
Salary Comparison
Medicine Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $200,708 in Arkansas to $239,200 in Iowa—a 19% difference. The highest-paying states include Iowa, Idaho, and Montana. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 778,470 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Medicine by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Medicine programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Medicine is found at Indiana University (IU Indianapolis), Indianapolis (349 graduates), Rutgers University, New Brunswick (317 graduates), University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) (266 graduates), Wayne State University (WSU) (258 graduates), and Thomas Jefferson University (257 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 16,854 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Admissions | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Doctorate (P)
|
349 |
SAT: 1040-1230 ACT: 21-28 |
Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Doctorate (P)
|
317 |
SAT: 1270-1480 ACT: 28-33 |
New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Doctorate (P)
|
266 |
SAT: 1120-1340 ACT: 25-32 |
Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Doctorate (P)
|
258 |
SAT: 1040-1260 ACT: 21-28 |
Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| Thomas Jefferson University |
Doctorate (P)
|
257 |
SAT: 1150-1350 ACT: 27-32 |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | jefferson.edu |
| Drexel University |
Doctorate (P)
|
254 |
SAT: 1230-1430 ACT: 27-33 |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Doctorate (P)
|
254 | N/A | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Augusta University (AU) |
Doctorate (P)
|
244 |
SAT: 1020-1230 ACT: 19-26 |
Augusta, Georgia | Public | augusta.edu |
| Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) |
Doctorate (P)
|
236 | N/A | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | mcw.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Doctorate (P)
|
235 |
SAT: 1310-1480 ACT: 27-31 |
Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center |
Doctorate (P)
|
228 | N/A | Dallas, Texas | Public | utsouthwestern.edu |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) |
Doctorate (P)
|
226 | N/A | Houston, Texas | Public | uth.edu |
| The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) |
Doctorate (P)
|
219 | N/A | Galveston, Texas | Public | utmb.edu |
| Temple University |
Doctorate (P)
|
214 | N/A | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Doctorate (P)
|
210 |
SAT: 1430-1540 ACT: 32-35 |
Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center |
Doctorate (P)
|
208 | N/A | San Antonio, Texas | Public | uthscsa.edu |
| SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University |
Doctorate (P)
|
206 | N/A | Brooklyn, New York | Public | downstate.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Doctorate (P)
|
202 |
SAT: 1160-1420 ACT: 21-30 |
Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Doctorate (P)
|
201 |
SAT: 1330-1470 ACT: 30-33 |
Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Doctorate (P)
|
200 |
SAT: 1050-1290 ACT: 21-27 |
Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Doctorate (P)
|
196 |
SAT: 1080-1290 ACT: 21-28 |
Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| New York Medical College (NYMC) |
Doctorate (P)
|
193 | N/A | Valhalla, New York | Private | nymc.edu |
| Tufts University |
Doctorate (P)
|
187 |
SAT: 1460-1550 ACT: 33-35 |
Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Doctorate (P)
|
187 |
SAT: 1330-1480 ACT: 29-32 |
Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Albert Einstein College of Medicine |
Doctorate (P)
|
187 | N/A | Bronx, New York | Private | einsteinmed.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Doctorate (P)
|
185 |
SAT: 1180-1380 ACT: 26-32 |
Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Harvard University |
Doctorate (P)
|
182 |
SAT: 1500-1580 ACT: 34-36 |
Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Doctorate (P)
|
181 |
SAT: 1350-1530 ACT: 31-34 |
Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Doctorate (P)
|
181 |
SAT: 1150-1350 ACT: 26-31 |
East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC-NO) |
Doctorate (P)
|
180 | N/A | New Orleans, Louisiana | Public | lsuhsc.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Doctorate (P)
|
178 |
SAT: 1390-1510 ACT: 31-33 |
New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Doctorate (P)
|
178 |
SAT: 1140-1380 ACT: 25-31 |
College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Doctorate (P)
|
177 |
SAT: 1140-1330 ACT: 24-29 |
Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Doctorate (P)
|
176 |
SAT: 1130-1400 ACT: 22-30 |
Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| Georgetown University (GU) |
Doctorate (P)
|
176 |
SAT: 1390-1550 ACT: 32-34 |
Washington, District of Columbia | Private | georgetown.edu |
| Saint Louis University (SLU) |
Doctorate (P)
|
176 |
SAT: 1210-1430 ACT: 26-31 |
Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | slu.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Doctorate (P)
|
176 |
SAT: 1370-1530 ACT: 30-34 |
Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Public | unc.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Doctorate (P)
|
175 |
SAT: 1030-1270 ACT: 22-30 |
Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| University of California (UCSF) |
Doctorate (P)
|
173 | N/A | San Francisco, California | Public | ucsf.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Doctorate (P)
|
173 |
SAT: 1360-1510 ACT: 28-32 |
Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| Loma Linda University (LLU) |
Doctorate (P)
|
172 | N/A | Loma Linda, California | Private | llu.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Doctorate (P)
|
172 |
SAT: 1440-1550 ACT: 32-35 |
Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Doctorate (P)
|
172 |
SAT: 1350-1500 ACT: 31-34 |
Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) |
Doctorate (P)
|
170 | N/A | Little Rock, Arkansas | Public | uams.edu |
| Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) |
Doctorate (P)
|
170 | N/A | Houston, Texas | Private | bcm.edu |
| The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) |
Doctorate (P)
|
170 | N/A | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | uthsc.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Doctorate (P)
|
169 |
SAT: 1210-1380 ACT: 27-32 |
Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Doctorate (P)
|
168 | N/A | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFU) |
Doctorate (P)
|
166 | N/A | North Chicago, Illinois | Private | rosalindfranklin.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Doctorate (P)
|
166 |
SAT: 1150-1360 ACT: 24-29 |
Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School |
Doctorate (P)
|
165 | N/A | Worcester, Massachusetts | Public | umassmed.edu |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) |
Doctorate (P)
|
165 | N/A | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttuhsc.edu |
| Creighton University |
Doctorate (P)
|
164 |
SAT: 1210-1400 ACT: 24-30 |
Omaha, Nebraska | Private | creighton.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Doctorate (P)
|
164 |
SAT: 1050-1300 ACT: 22-28 |
Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Doctorate (P)
|
155 |
SAT: 1020-1210 ACT: 21-29 |
University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Doctorate (P)
|
154 |
SAT: 1400-1520 ACT: 32-34 |
Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus |
Doctorate (P)
|
152 |
SAT: 980-1220 ACT: 21-27 |
Denver, Colorado | Public | ucdenver.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Doctorate (P)
|
150 |
SAT: 1160-1340 ACT: 27-31 |
Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Doctorate (P)
|
149 |
SAT: 1020-1250 ACT: 19-27 |
Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| Rush University |
Doctorate (P)
|
148 | N/A | Chicago, Illinois | Private | rushu.rush.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Doctorate (P)
|
148 |
SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Post-Master's
Doctorate (P)
|
147 |
SAT: 1300-1480 ACT: 28-33 |
Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) |
Doctorate (P)
|
147 | N/A | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | web.musc.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OUHSC) |
Doctorate (P)
|
146 | N/A | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Public | ouhsc.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Doctorate (P)
|
144 |
SAT: 1410-1530 ACT: 32-34 |
Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Doctorate (P)
|
143 | N/A | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMB) |
Doctorate (P)
|
142 | N/A | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umaryland.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Doctorate (P)
|
142 |
SAT: 1490-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| Upstate Medical University |
Doctorate (P)
|
142 | N/A | Syracuse, New York | Public | upstate.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Doctorate (P)
|
141 |
SAT: 1490-1560 ACT: 33-35 |
Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Wake Forest University (WFC) |
Doctorate (P)
|
141 |
SAT: 1390-1510 ACT: 32-34 |
Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Private | wfu.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Doctorate (P)
|
140 |
SAT: 1130-1320 ACT: 22-28 |
Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) |
Doctorate (P)
|
140 | N/A | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unmc.edu |
| Albany Medical College (AMC) |
Doctorate (P)
|
135 | N/A | Albany, New York | Private | amc.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Doctorate (P)
|
135 |
SAT: 1220-1400 ACT: 27-32 |
University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) |
Doctorate (P)
|
135 | N/A | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | evms.edu |
| Emory University |
Doctorate (P)
|
134 |
SAT: 1460-1550 ACT: 32-34 |
Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Doctorate (P)
|
134 |
SAT: 1480-1570 ACT: 33-35 |
New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Brown University |
Doctorate (P)
|
134 |
SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
Providence, Rhode Island | Private | brown.edu |
| Icahn School of Medicine (ISMMS) |
Doctorate (P)
|
133 | N/A | New York, New York | Private | icahn.mssm.edu |
| Duke University |
Doctorate (P)
|
133 |
SAT: 1510-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC-S) |
Doctorate (P)
|
133 | N/A | Shreveport, Louisiana | Public | lsuhs.edu |
| Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) |
Doctorate (P)
|
132 | N/A | Portland, Oregon | Public | ohsu.edu |
| Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) |
Doctorate (P)
|
128 | N/A | Rootstown, Ohio | Public | neomed.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Doctorate (P)
|
126 |
SAT: 1270-1450 ACT: 29-33 |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Doctorate (P)
|
124 |
SAT: 1320-1490 ACT: 28-33 |
Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| University of Missouri (UMKC) |
Doctorate (P)
|
120 |
SAT: 1150-1540 ACT: 21-29 |
Kansas City, Missouri | Public | umkc.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Doctorate (P)
|
120 |
SAT: 1250-1420 ACT: 29-32 |
Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Doctorate (P)
|
119 |
SAT: 1150-1330 ACT: 23-29 |
Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| Oakland University (OU) |
Doctorate (P)
|
117 | SAT: 995-1185 | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Public | oakland.edu |
| Wright State University |
Doctorate (P)
|
117 |
SAT: 913-1230 ACT: 17-25 |
Dayton, Ohio | Public | wright.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Doctorate (P)
|
116 |
SAT: 1190-1350 ACT: 25-29 |
Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Doctorate (P)
|
115 | N/A | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) |
Doctorate (P)
|
115 | N/A | Scranton, Pennsylvania | Private | geisinger.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Doctorate (P)
|
114 |
SAT: 1060-1250 ACT: 20-26 |
Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center |
Doctorate (P)
|
114 | N/A | El Paso, Texas | Public | elpaso.ttuhsc.edu |
| California University of Science and Medicine (CUSM) |
Doctorate (P)
|
113 | N/A | Colton, California | Private | cusm.org |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Doctorate (P)
|
112 |
SAT: 1530-1580 ACT: 34-35 |
Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Doctorate (P)
|
111 |
SAT: 1180-1398 ACT: 22-29 |
Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Doctorate (P)
|
110 |
SAT: 1240-1390 ACT: 27-31 |
Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Medicine programs
How much can I earn with a Medicine degree?
Salaries for Medicine graduates vary by role and location. Cardiologists earn a median of $239,200 annually, while Surgeons, All Other earn around $239,200. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Iowa average $239,200 compared to $200,708 in Arkansas. Approximately 778,470 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Medicine programs?
Currently 151 accredited institutions offer Medicine degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Indiana University (IU Indianapolis), Indianapolis (349 graduates), Rutgers University, New Brunswick (317 graduates), and University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) (266 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Medicine growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 16,714 in 2010 to 20,703 in 2023-24. This represents a 24% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Medicine degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Cardiologists, Surgeons, All Other, and Pediatric Surgeons. Related occupations employ approximately 778,470 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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