Best Medical Scientist programs in Michigan, ranked by enrollment
Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health.
29 schools in Michigan run programs that feed this job, graduating 1,832 people a year. The job pays a median of $84,310 in Michigan across about 2,370 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Michigan that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
32 programs in Michigan that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Michigan (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Michigan page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 26.0202In Michigan → | 356 | 19.4% | 22 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 2 | CIP 26.0102In Michigan → | 270 | 14.7% | 9 | $32,152 | $25,000 |
| 3 | CIP 26.0204In Michigan → | 233 | 12.7% | 4 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 4 | CIP 26.1102In Michigan → | 131 | 7.2% | 4 | $72,338 | $18,500 |
| 5 | CIP 26.0406In Michigan → | 123 | 6.7% | 4 | $35,393 | $19,961 |
| 6 | CIP 26.1309In Michigan → | 103 | 5.6% | 2 | $29,460 | $23,480 |
| 7 | CIP 26.0901In Michigan → | 99 | 5.4% | 3 | $31,146 | $23,384 |
| 8 | CIP 26.1504In Michigan → | 71 | 3.9% | 2 | $31,687 | $22,936 |
| 9 | CIP 26.0908In Michigan → | 59 | 3.2% | 5 | $31,146 | $23,384 |
| 10 | CIP 51.2010In Michigan → | 57 | 3.1% | 1 | $48,728 | $23,761 |
| 11 | CIP 51.2202In Michigan → | 47 | 2.6% | 3 | $36,762 | $25,076 |
| 12 | CIP 26.1007In Michigan → | 41 | 2.2% | 1 | $39,202 | $18,000 |
| 13 | CIP 26.0806In Michigan → | 35 | 1.9% | 1 | $31,800 | $21,424 |
| 14 | CIP 51.2005In Michigan → | 26 | 1.4% | 1 | $48,728 | $23,761 |
| 15 | CIP 26.1001In Michigan → | 19 | 1.0% | 1 | $39,202 | $18,000 |
| 16 | CIP 26.0508In Michigan → | 17 | 0.9% | 1 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 17 | CIP 26.1503In Michigan → | 16 | 0.9% | 1 | $31,687 | $22,936 |
| 18 | CIP 30.1101In Michigan → | 16 | 0.9% | 3 | $37,623 | $25,986 |
| 19 | CIP 26.0911In Michigan → | 14 | 0.8% | 2 | $31,146 | $23,384 |
| 20 | CIP 26.0203In Michigan → | 13 | 0.7% | 1 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 21 | CIP 51.2003In Michigan → | 13 | 0.7% | 1 | $48,728 | $23,761 |
| 22 | CIP 26.0507In Michigan → | 12 | 0.7% | 2 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 23 | CIP 26.0509In Michigan → | 11 | 0.6% | 1 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 24 | CIP 26.0909In Michigan → | 11 | 0.6% | 1 | $31,146 | $23,384 |
| 25 | CIP 51.2004In Michigan → | 9 | 0.5% | 2 | $48,728 | $23,761 |
| 26 | CIP 26.1004In Michigan → | 7 | 0.4% | 1 | $39,202 | $18,000 |
| 27 | CIP 26.0902In Michigan → | 6 | 0.3% | 1 | $31,146 | $23,384 |
| 28 | CIP 26.0403In Michigan → | 5 | 0.3% | 2 | $35,393 | $19,961 |
| 29 | CIP 51.1401In Michigan → | 4 | 0.2% | 2 | $223,926 | $16,250 |
| 30 | CIP 26.0910In Michigan → | 3 | 0.2% | 1 | $31,146 | $23,384 |
| 31 | CIP 26.1006In Michigan → | 3 | 0.2% | 1 | $39,202 | $18,000 |
| 32 | CIP 26.1599In Michigan → | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | $31,687 | $22,936 |
Top 25 schools in Michigan
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 7 of the 29 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI Public · 21 feeder programs | 781 | Molecular Biology | $26,151 | 93% | — | 16% |
| 2 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI Public · 5 feeder programs | 254 | Biomedical Sciences, General | $40,959 | 67% | — | 83% |
| 3 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Public · 10 feeder programs | 178 | Physiology, General | $29,642 | 81% | — | 85% |
| 4 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI Public · 5 feeder programs | 124 | Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology | — | 59% | — | 90% |
| 5 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI Public · 4 feeder programs | 69 | Biomedical Sciences, General | $35,955 | 58% | — | 85% |
| 6 | Oakland University Rochester Hills, MI Public · 5 feeder programs | 62 | Biomedical Sciences, General | $27,497 | 58% | — | 88% |
| 7 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI Public · 4 feeder programs | 57 | Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology | — | 46% | — | 80% |
| 8 | Wayne State University Detroit, MI Public · 6 feeder programs | 41 | Pharmaceutics and Drug Design | — | 58% | — | 81% |
| 9 | Northern Michigan University Marquette, MI Public · 2 feeder programs | 34 | Natural Products Chemistry and Pharmacognosy | — | 52% | — | 84% |
| 10 | University of Michigan - Dearborn Dearborn, MI Public · 2 feeder programs | 33 | Neurobiology and Behavior | — | 58% | — | 56% |
| 11 | Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo, MI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 28 | Biochemistry | — | 76% | $19,279 | 75% |
| 12 | Calvin University Grand Rapids, MI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 27 | Biochemistry | — | 74% | $22,391 | 71% |
| 13 | University of Michigan - Flint Flint, MI Public · 3 feeder programs | 20 | Biomedical Sciences, General | $26,707 | 40% | — | 70% |
| 14 | Albion College Albion, MI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 18 | Biochemistry | — | 62% | $16,537 | 81% |
| 15 | Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 16 | Biochemistry | — | 90% | — | 21% |
| 16 | Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI Public · 2 feeder programs | 12 | Vision Science/Physiological Optics | — | 47% | — | 91% |
| 17 | University of Detroit Mercy Detroit, MI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 12 | Biochemistry | — | 67% | $16,109 | 75% |
| 18 | Andrews University Berrien Springs, MI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 9 | Biochemistry | — | 72% | $17,800 | 82% |
| 19 | Southwestern Michigan College Dowagiac, MI Public · 1 feeder programs | 8 | Biomedical Sciences, General | — | 38% | — | — |
| 20 | Madonna University Livonia, MI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 7 | Gerontology | — | 60% | $16,904 | 63% |
| 21 | Saginaw Valley State University University Center, MI Public · 1 feeder programs | 7 | Biochemistry | — | 48% | — | 72% |
| 22 | Alma College Alma, MI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 6 | Biochemistry | — | 63% | $22,790 | 57% |
| 23 | Concordia University Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 6 | Biomedical Sciences, General | $23,080 | 48% | $25,071 | 69% |
| 24 | Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine Kalamazoo, MI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 6 | Biomedical Sciences, General | — | — | — | — |
| 25 | Adrian College Adrian, MI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 4 | Biochemistry | — | 48% | $20,357 | 73% |
All 29 schools in Michigan
Every school in Michigan with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor | Public | 781 | 21 |
| Grand Valley State University | Allendale | Public | 254 | 5 |
| Michigan State University | East Lansing | Public | 178 | 10 |
| Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant | Public | 124 | 5 |
| Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo | Public | 69 | 4 |
| Oakland University | Rochester Hills | Public | 62 | 5 |
| Eastern Michigan University | Ypsilanti | Public | 57 | 4 |
| Wayne State University | Detroit | Public | 41 | 6 |
| Northern Michigan University | Marquette | Public | 34 | 2 |
| University of Michigan - Dearborn | Dearborn | Public | 33 | 2 |
| Kalamazoo College | Kalamazoo | Private not-for-profit | 28 | 1 |
| Calvin University | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 27 | 1 |
| University of Michigan - Flint | Flint | Public | 20 | 3 |
| Albion College | Albion | Private not-for-profit | 18 | 1 |
| Hillsdale College | Hillsdale | Private not-for-profit | 16 | 1 |
What medical scientists earn in Michigan
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $103,410. Michigan pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Michigan
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Medical Scientists page.
How to become a Medical Scientist
Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Michigan
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 25 majors mapped to Medical Scientists25 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 26.0102Biomedical Sciences, General
- 26.0202Biochemistry
- 26.0203Biophysics
- 26.0204Molecular Biology
- 26.0205Molecular Biochemistry
- 26.0401Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology
- 26.0403Anatomy
- 26.0404Developmental Biology and Embryology
- 26.0406Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology
- 26.0407Cell Biology and Anatomy
- 26.0503Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology
- 26.0504Virology
- 26.0505Parasitology
- 26.0507Immunology
- 26.0508Microbiology and Immunology
- 26.0509Infectious Disease and Global Health
- 26.0806Human/Medical Genetics
- 26.0901Physiology, General
- 26.0902Molecular Physiology
- 26.0903Cell Physiology
- 26.0904Endocrinology
- 26.0905Reproductive Biology
- 26.0907Cardiovascular Science
- 26.0908Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology
- 26.0909Vision Science/Physiological Optics
Common questions
Answers for people weighing medical scientists programs in Michigan.
What degree do you need to become a Medical Scientist?+
Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Biochemistry, which awarded 356 degrees in Michigan in 2024-25, 19.4% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Medical Scientist?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 32 programs to this occupation. The largest are Biochemistry, Biology, Physiology, Biomathematics, plus 10 more. Together they graduate about 1,832 people a year in Michigan.
How much do medical scientists earn in Michigan?+
The median is $84,310 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 18.5% below the U.S. median of $103,410. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for medical scientists growing?+
BLS projects a +8.7% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, much faster than average, with roughly 9,600 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Michigan?+
29 institutions in Michigan reported graduates from at least one of the 32 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do medical scientists work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Scientist, Study Director, Research Scientist, Clinical Research Scientist among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 19-1042.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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