Best institutions to study Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator
A program that prepares individuals to apply the principles and techniques of art and computer-assisted imaging, graphics, and animation to create visual materials to facilitate the recording and dissemination of biomedical knowledge for educational, research, and clinical purposes.
10 U.S. institutions graduated 83 Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.2703, a specialization of Medical Illustration and Informatics (CIP 51.27), and leads most directly to the Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators occupation (BLS SOC 27-1013).
About Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply the principles and techniques of art and computer-assisted imaging, graphics, and animation to create visual materials to facilitate the recording and dissemination of biomedical knowledge for educational, research, and clinical purposes. Includes instruction in anatomy, physiology, pathology, histology, embryology, neuroanatomy, medical terminology, artistic media and techniques, illustration techniques, three-dimensional modeling, prosthetics, data display design, exhibit design and production, medical photography, multimedia, computer graphics and animation, digital imaging, business management, production technology, and instructional design.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator program, part of the Medical Illustration and Informatics field, prepares students to create visual materials that enhance the understanding of biomedical knowledge. This program is ideal for individuals interested in combining art with science to support educational, research, and clinical purposes in healthcare settings.
Students in this program gain skills in artistic media and techniques, medical terminology, and computer-assisted imaging. Coursework covers anatomy, physiology, illustration techniques, and digital imaging, equipping graduates with the necessary tools to produce effective visual communications in the medical field.
Credentials awarded
What Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree45 graduates / yr · 7 institutions54%
- Master's degree38 graduates / yr · 4 institutions46%
Graduates over time
Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 105 |
| 2013 | 97 |
| 2014 | 83 |
| 2015 | 96 |
| 2016 | 82 |
| 2017 | 76 |
| 2018 | 86 |
| 2019 | 83 |
| 2020 | 91 |
| 2021 | 80 |
| 2022 | 83 |
| 2023 | 73 |
| 2024 | 94 |
| 2025 | 83 |
Top 10 institutions for Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, ILPublicMaster's | 20 | 62% | — | — |
| 2 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 14 | 70% | $28,133 | $25,345 |
| 3 | Iowa State University Ames, IAPublicBachelor's | 12 | 75% | — | — |
| 4 | Augusta University Augusta, GAPublicMaster's | 9 | 49% | — | — |
| 5 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 7 | 94% | $11,888 | — |
| 6 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJPublicBachelor's | 7 | 67% | — | — |
| 7 | Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 58% | $31,870 | — |
| 8 | Arcadia University Glenside, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 67% | $23,796 | — |
| 9 | Buena Vista University Storm Lake, IAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 62% | $17,609 | — |
| 10 | The University of Olivet Olivet, MIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 35% | $21,946 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Medical Illustration and Informatics field (CIP 51.27) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 9 states
Where Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator graduates come from. Each state links to all Medical Illustration and Informatics programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 1 | 20 | University of Illinois Chicago20 / yr |
| Iowa | 2 | 15 | Iowa State University12 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 14 | Rochester Institute of Technology14 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 9 | Augusta University9 / yr |
| Maryland | 1 | 7 | Johns Hopkins University7 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 7 | Rowan University7 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 6 | Cleveland Institute of Art6 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 4 | Arcadia University4 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | The University of Olivet1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-1013, Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Medical Illustration program typically pursue careers as fine artists, including medical illustrators. The job outlook indicates a decline of 1.2%, with approximately 2,200 annual openings. The median wage for this profession is $60,560, and a bachelor's degree is typically required for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.2703
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustratorsprimary SOC 27-1013 | $55,490 | -1.2% Decline | ~2,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Use materials such as pens and ink, watercolors, charcoal, oil, or computer software to create artwork.
- Integrate and develop visual elements, such as line, space, mass, color, and perspective, to produce desired effects, such as the illustration of ideas, emotions, or moods.
- Confer with clients, editors, writers, art directors, and other interested parties regarding the nature and content of artwork to be produced.
- Maintain portfolios of artistic work to demonstrate styles, interests, and abilities.
- Market artwork through brochures, mailings, or Web sites.
- Study different techniques to learn how to apply them to artistic endeavors.
Tools and technology used
Other Medical Illustration and Informatics specializations
The 2 other 6-digit CIP codes under Medical Illustration and Informatics (CIP 51.27).
Common questions
What degree do I need to become a medical illustrator?+
A bachelor's degree is typically required for entry-level positions in medical illustration.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, artistic techniques, and computer graphics.
What types of jobs can I get after graduation?+
Graduates often work as fine artists, specifically as medical illustrators.
Is there a demand for medical illustrators?+
The job outlook shows a slight decline, but there are still about 2,200 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator?+
Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator is CIP 51.2703 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Medical Illustration and Informatics (CIP 51.27). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply the principles and techniques of art and computer-assisted imaging, graphics, and animation to create visual materials to facilitate the recording and dissemination of biomedical knowledge for educational, research, and clinical purposes. Includes instruction in anatomy, physiology, pathology, histology, embryology, neuroanatomy, medical terminology, artistic media and techniques, illustration techniques, three-dimensional modeling, prosthetics, data display design, exhibit design and production, medical photography, multimedia, computer graphics and animation, digital imaging, business management, production technology, and instructional design.
How many institutions offer Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator programs?+
10 U.S. institutions reported Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 9 states, awarding 83 credentials in the year. That is 2.2% of all Medical Illustration and Informatics graduates.
How much do Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators occupation, which Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator most directly leads to, pays a median of $55,490 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Medical Illustration and Informatics field report median earnings of $25,345 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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