Best Medical Scientist programs in New York, ranked by enrollment
Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health.
81 schools in New York run programs that feed this job, graduating 4,078 people a year. The job pays a median of $87,760 in New York across about 7,690 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in New York that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
40 programs in New York that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in New York (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 New York page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 26.0102In New York → | 1,042 | 25.6% | 25 | $32,152 | $25,000 |
| 2 | CIP 26.0202In New York → | 653 | 16.0% | 58 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 3 | CIP 26.0908In New York → | 385 | 9.4% | 10 | $31,146 | $23,384 |
| 4 | CIP 26.1309In New York → | 383 | 9.4% | 8 | $29,460 | $23,480 |
| 5 | CIP 26.1102In New York → | 348 | 8.5% | 8 | $72,338 | $18,500 |
| 6 | CIP 51.2010In New York → | 215 | 5.3% | 5 | $48,728 | $23,761 |
| 7 | CIP 51.2202In New York → | 149 | 3.7% | 8 | $36,762 | $25,076 |
| 8 | CIP 26.0901In New York → | 97 | 2.4% | 8 | $31,146 | $23,384 |
| 9 | CIP 26.1001In New York → | 93 | 2.3% | 8 | $39,202 | $18,000 |
| 10 | CIP 26.0406In New York → | 88 | 2.2% | 4 | $35,393 | $19,961 |
| 11 | CIP 26.0910In New York → | 76 | 1.9% | 6 | $31,146 | $23,384 |
| 12 | CIP 26.0204In New York → | 61 | 1.5% | 6 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 13 | CIP 26.0508In New York → | 54 | 1.3% | 5 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 14 | CIP 26.1007In New York → | 49 | 1.2% | 2 | $39,202 | $18,000 |
| 15 | CIP 51.1401In New York → | 47 | 1.2% | 5 | $223,926 | $16,250 |
| 16 | CIP 26.0205In New York → | 44 | 1.1% | 5 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 17 | CIP 30.1101In New York → | 38 | 0.9% | 7 | $37,623 | $25,986 |
| 18 | CIP 26.1002In New York → | 26 | 0.6% | 2 | $39,202 | $18,000 |
| 19 | CIP 51.1402In New York → | 26 | 0.6% | 2 | $223,926 | $16,250 |
| 20 | CIP 26.0806In New York → | 23 | 0.6% | 2 | $31,800 | $21,424 |
| 21 | CIP 26.0203In New York → | 21 | 0.5% | 4 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 22 | CIP 26.0401In New York → | 18 | 0.4% | 2 | $35,393 | $19,961 |
| 23 | CIP 26.1004In New York → | 18 | 0.4% | 4 | $39,202 | $18,000 |
| 24 | CIP 26.0911In New York → | 16 | 0.4% | 1 | $31,146 | $23,384 |
| 25 | CIP 26.0407In New York → | 15 | 0.4% | 1 | $35,393 | $19,961 |
| 26 | CIP 26.0909In New York → | 13 | 0.3% | 1 | $31,146 | $23,384 |
| 27 | CIP 26.0507In New York → | 12 | 0.3% | 1 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 28 | CIP 26.0509In New York → | 10 | 0.2% | 1 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 29 | Molecular Medicinemain feeder CIP 26.1401In New York → | 8 | 0.2% | 2 | — | — |
| 30 | CIP 26.0403In New York → | 8 | 0.2% | 3 | $35,393 | $19,961 |
| 31 | CIP 26.0404In New York → | 8 | 0.2% | 1 | $35,393 | $19,961 |
| 32 | CIP 26.0503In New York → | 8 | 0.2% | 2 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 33 | CIP 26.0505In New York → | 6 | 0.1% | 1 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 34 | CIP 26.1504In New York → | 6 | 0.1% | 1 | $31,687 | $22,936 |
| 35 | Biopsychologymain feeder CIP 30.1001In New York → | 3 | 0.1% | 1 | $43,343 | $22,125 |
| 36 | CIP 26.0903In New York → | 3 | 0.1% | 1 | $31,146 | $23,384 |
| 37 | CIP 51.2004In New York → | 3 | 0.1% | 1 | $48,728 | $23,761 |
| 38 | CIP 26.1006In New York → | 2 | 0.0% | 1 | $39,202 | $18,000 |
| 39 | CIP 51.2003In New York → | 2 | 0.0% | 1 | $48,728 | $23,761 |
| 40 | CIP 26.1503In New York → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $31,687 | $22,936 |
Top 25 schools in New York
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 27 of the 81 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 12 feeder programs | 670 | Epidemiology | — | 96% | $15,315 | 4% |
| 2 | New York University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 9 feeder programs | 509 | Biomedical Sciences, General | $30,913 | 88% | $29,023 | 9% |
| 3 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY Public · 14 feeder programs | 361 | Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology | $29,123 | 75% | — | 74% |
| 4 | Long Island University Brookville, NY Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 245 | Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology | — | 57% | $24,639 | 86% |
| 5 | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 218 | Biomedical Sciences, General | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY Public · 9 feeder programs | 182 | Biochemistry | $29,649 | 76% | — | 49% |
| 7 | University of Rochester Rochester, NY Private not-for-profit · 14 feeder programs | 122 | Microbiology and Immunology | — | 85% | $25,874 | 40% |
| 8 | Weill Medical College of Cornell University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 8 feeder programs | 121 | Biostatistics | — | — | — | — |
| 9 | Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Albany, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 109 | Pharmaceutical Sciences | $40,169 | 68% | $23,207 | 53% |
| 10 | St. John's University - New York Queens, NY Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 93 | Biomedical Sciences, General | $23,473 | 66% | $27,359 | 83% |
| 11 | Binghamton University Vestal, NY Public · 2 feeder programs | 88 | Biochemistry | $41,305 | 82% | — | 39% |
| 12 | CUNY City College New York, NY Public · 2 feeder programs | 83 | Biomedical Sciences, General | $28,324 | 57% | — | 60% |
| 13 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 77 | Biomedical Sciences, General | $34,630 | 70% | $28,133 | 67% |
| 14 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 71 | Environmental Health | $44,516 | 95% | $17,613 | 9% |
| 15 | Albert Einstein College of Medicine Bronx, NY Private not-for-profit · 8 feeder programs | 66 | Clinical and Translational Science | — | — | — | — |
| 16 | Adelphi University Garden City, NY Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 62 | Biomedical Sciences, General | $30,101 | 67% | $27,326 | 66% |
| 17 | New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury, NY Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 57 | Biomedical Sciences, General | $20,883 | 59% | $22,158 | 81% |
| 18 | Ithaca College Ithaca, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 56 | Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology | $32,794 | 76% | $28,970 | 69% |
| 19 | State University of New York at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, NY Public · 2 feeder programs | 52 | Biomedical Sciences, General | $24,885 | 59% | — | 78% |
| 20 | Colgate University Hamilton, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 49 | Molecular Biology | $44,089 | 91% | $22,903 | 14% |
| 21 | The Rockefeller University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 43 | Biomedical Sciences, General | — | — | — | — |
| 22 | Barnard College New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 39 | Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology | — | 93% | $24,675 | 9% |
| 23 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center New York, NY Public · 2 feeder programs | 36 | Biochemistry | — | — | — | 68% |
| 24 | Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 36 | Biochemistry | $45,599 | 91% | $29,107 | 19% |
| 25 | Teachers College at Columbia University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 35 | Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology | — | — | — | — |
All 81 schools in New York
Every school in New York 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia University in the City of New York | New York | Private not-for-profit | 670 | 12 |
| New York University | New York | Private not-for-profit | 509 | 9 |
| University at Buffalo | Buffalo | Public | 361 | 14 |
| Long Island University | Brookville | Private not-for-profit | 245 | 7 |
| Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | New York | Private not-for-profit | 218 | 4 |
| Stony Brook University | Stony Brook | Public | 182 | 9 |
| University of Rochester | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 122 | 14 |
| Weill Medical College of Cornell University | New York | Private not-for-profit | 121 | 8 |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | Albany | Private not-for-profit | 109 | 2 |
| St. John's University - New York | Queens | Private not-for-profit | 93 | 4 |
| Binghamton University | Vestal | Public | 88 | 2 |
| CUNY City College | New York | Public | 83 | 2 |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 77 | 2 |
| Cornell University | Ithaca | Private not-for-profit | 71 | 6 |
| Albert Einstein College of Medicine | Bronx | Private not-for-profit | 66 | 8 |
What medical scientists earn in New York
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $103,410. New York pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in New York
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 New York
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 New York.
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 Biomedical Sciences, General, which awarded 1,042 degrees in New York in 2024-25, 25.6% 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 40 programs to this occupation. The largest are Biology, Biochemistry, Physiology, Ecology, plus 12 more. Together they graduate about 4,078 people a year in New York.
How much do medical scientists earn in New York?+
The median is $87,760 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 15.1% 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 New York?+
81 institutions in New York reported graduates from at least one of the 40 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
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card