Medical Science: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for health professionals seeking advanced research expertise, this program equips clinicians with the methodological and analytical skills needed to lead and contribute to clinical and translational research initiatives. It emphasizes the integration of scientific discovery with patient-centered outcomes, fostering innovation in medical practice and public health.
- Biostatistics and Data Analytics: Mastery of statistical methods and data interpretation techniques essential for designing, analyzing, and evaluating clinical studies.
- Clinical Research Methodology: In-depth training in study design, protocol development, and ethical considerations in human subject research.
- Translational Science: Exploration of strategies to bridge laboratory findings with real-world clinical applications and improved patient care.
- Regulatory and Ethical Frameworks: Understanding of federal guidelines, institutional review board (IRB) processes, and ethical standards governing clinical research.
- Health Services Research: Investigation into healthcare delivery systems, treatment effectiveness, and policy implications of medical interventions.
- Genomics and Precision Medicine: Study of genetic and molecular factors influencing disease and individualized treatment approaches.
Medical Science Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Medical Science Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Medical Science degrees, including Natural Sciences Managers, Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists and Epidemiologists. 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 268,630 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers 11-9121 | $161,180 | $79,830 - $239,200 | 100,870 | $77.49 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists 19-1042 | $100,590 | $61,860 - $168,210 | 156,300 | $48.36 |
| Epidemiologists 19-1041 | $83,980 | $56,950 - $134,860 | 11,460 | $40.38 |
Salary Comparison
Medical Science Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $59,810 in Louisiana to $150,983 in Massachusetts—a 152% difference. The highest-paying states include Massachusetts, New Jersey, and California. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 268,630 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 Medical Science by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 65 institutions offering Medical Science 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 Medical Science is found at Butler University (132 graduates), Brown University (51 graduates), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Campus (41 graduates), Jacksonville University (JU) (36 graduates), and Harvard University (35 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,047 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler University |
Doctorate (P)
|
132 |
SAT: 1180-1360 ACT: 26-31 |
Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | butler.edu |
| Brown University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
51 |
SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
Providence, Rhode Island | Private | brown.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
41 |
SAT: 1270-1450 ACT: 29-33 |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Jacksonville University (JU) |
Master's
|
36 |
SAT: 1110-1260 ACT: 24-28 |
Jacksonville, Florida | Private | ju.edu |
| Harvard University |
Master's
|
35 |
SAT: 1500-1580 ACT: 34-36 |
Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| Yale University |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
34 |
SAT: 1500-1580 ACT: 33-35 |
New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Master's
|
33 |
SAT: 1250-1420 ACT: 29-32 |
Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Master's
|
32 |
SAT: 1490-1560 ACT: 33-35 |
Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Icahn School of Medicine (ISMMS) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
32 | N/A | New York, New York | Private | icahn.mssm.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
32 |
SAT: 1150-1360 ACT: 24-29 |
Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
32 | N/A | Portland, Oregon | Public | ohsu.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
32 |
SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| University of California (UCSF) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
31 | N/A | San Francisco, California | Public | ucsf.edu |
| Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) |
Master's
|
30 | N/A | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | msm.edu |
| Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26 | N/A | Rochester, Minnesota | Private | college.mayo.edu |
| Tufts University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
25 |
SAT: 1460-1550 ACT: 33-35 |
Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Master's
|
22 |
SAT: 1040-1230 ACT: 21-28 |
Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
20 | N/A | Dallas, Texas | Public | utsouthwestern.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Master's
|
19 | N/A | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) |
Master's
|
19 | N/A | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | web.musc.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
18 |
SAT: 1160-1420 ACT: 21-30 |
Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Saint Cloud State University (SCSU) |
Master's
|
18 |
SAT: 970-1280 ACT: 18-25 |
Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Public | stcloudstate.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
17 |
SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 33-35 |
Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
16 |
SAT: 1180-1390 ACT: 25-33 |
Old Westbury, New York | Private | nyit.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Master's
|
16 |
SAT: 1510-1560 ACT: 34-35 |
Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
15 |
SAT: 980-1220 ACT: 21-27 |
Denver, Colorado | Public | ucdenver.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Master's
|
15 |
SAT: 1430-1540 ACT: 32-35 |
Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Master's
|
14 |
SAT: 1330-1470 ACT: 30-33 |
Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| Rush University |
Master's
|
14 | N/A | Chicago, Illinois | Private | rushu.rush.edu |
| Emory University |
Master's
|
13 |
SAT: 1460-1550 ACT: 32-34 |
Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
13 |
SAT: 1150-1330 ACT: 24-29 |
Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | lsu.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Master's
|
10 | N/A | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Doctorate (R)
|
10 |
SAT: 1350-1500 ACT: 31-34 |
Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| Clemson University |
Post-Master's
|
10 |
SAT: 1230-1390 ACT: 28-32 |
Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Master's
|
9 | N/A | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC-S) |
Master's
|
9 | N/A | Shreveport, Louisiana | Public | lsuhs.edu |
| Bethel University |
Master's
|
8 |
SAT: 1065-1240 ACT: 23-29 |
Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | bethel.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Master's
|
8 |
SAT: 1370-1530 ACT: 30-34 |
Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Public | unc.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
|
7 |
SAT: 1440-1550 ACT: 32-35 |
Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Master's
|
7 |
SAT: 1050-1300 ACT: 22-28 |
Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| Wright State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
7 |
SAT: 913-1230 ACT: 17-25 |
Dayton, Ohio | Public | wright.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 |
SAT: 1220-1400 ACT: 27-32 |
University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
6 |
SAT: 1010-1240 ACT: 20-26 |
Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
5 |
SAT: 1210-1420 ACT: 29-33 |
Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Master's
|
5 |
SAT: 1020-1210 ACT: 21-29 |
University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| University of Missouri (UMKC) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 |
SAT: 1150-1540 ACT: 21-29 |
Kansas City, Missouri | Public | umkc.edu |
| Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) |
Master's
|
5 | N/A | Houston, Texas | Private | bcm.edu |
| The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
5 | N/A | Galveston, Texas | Public | utmb.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
5 |
SAT: 1360-1510 ACT: 28-32 |
Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| Georgetown University (GU) |
Master's
|
4 |
SAT: 1390-1550 ACT: 32-34 |
Washington, District of Columbia | Private | georgetown.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Doctorate (R)
|
4 |
SAT: 1350-1530 ACT: 31-34 |
Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
4 |
SAT: 1270-1480 ACT: 28-33 |
New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Post-Master's
|
4 |
SAT: 1490-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) |
Master's
|
3 | N/A | Little Rock, Arkansas | Public | uams.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Master's
|
3 |
SAT: 1130-1320 ACT: 22-28 |
Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Lasell University |
Master's
|
2 |
SAT: 1085-1260 ACT: 18-26 |
Newton, Massachusetts | Private | lasell.edu |
| University of North Dakota (UND) |
Doctorate (R)
|
2 | N/A | Grand Forks, North Dakota | Public | und.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Doctorate (R)
|
2 |
SAT: 1100-1290 ACT: 22-28 |
Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| George Fox University |
Doctorate (P)
|
2 |
SAT: 1070-1330 ACT: 17-28 |
Newberg, Oregon | Private | georgefox.edu |
| University of South Dakota (USD) |
Doctorate (R)
Doctorate (P)
|
2 |
SAT: 1110-1330 ACT: 19-25 |
Vermillion, South Dakota | Public | usd.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Master's
|
1 |
SAT: 1120-1340 ACT: 25-32 |
Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Master's
|
1 |
SAT: 1390-1510 ACT: 31-33 |
New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Master's
|
1 |
SAT: 1150-1330 ACT: 23-29 |
Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Doctorate (R)
|
1 | N/A | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Augusta University (AU) |
Master's
|
1 |
SAT: 1020-1230 ACT: 19-26 |
Augusta, Georgia | Public | augusta.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Medical Science programs
How much can I earn with a Medical Science degree?
Salaries for Medical Science graduates vary by role and location. Natural Sciences Managers earn a median of $161,180 annually, while Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists earn around $100,590. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Massachusetts average $150,983 compared to $59,810 in Louisiana. Approximately 268,630 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 Medical Science programs?
Currently 65 accredited institutions offer Medical Science degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Butler University (132 graduates), Brown University (51 graduates), and University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Campus (41 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 Medical Science growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 442 in 2010 to 1,047 in 2023-24. This represents a 137% 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 Medical Science degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Natural Sciences Managers, Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists, and Epidemiologists. Related occupations employ approximately 268,630 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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