Best colleges for Medicine
Ranked by graduate earnings
Compare 188 U.S. colleges offering Medicine by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 48 states.
About Medicine programs
The Medicine program focuses on the science and practice of caring for patients, encompassing the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of illness and injury. This program is designed for individuals passionate about health care and dedicated to improving patient outcomes through various medical practices and technologies. Students will engage in a rigorous curriculum that prepares them for a rewarding career in the health professions.
In the Medicine program, students will develop essential skills such as critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication. Coursework typically covers areas like biology, psychology, and therapy, equipping students with the knowledge needed to diagnose and treat patients effectively.
Top 188 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
Specializations within Medicine
3 of the 4 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 51.12 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- MedicineCIP 51.120121,453 graduates / yr151 institutions46 states
- Osteopathic Medicine/CIP 51.1202
Osteopathy 8,814 graduates / yr36 institutions28 states - Podiatric Medicine/CIP 51.1203
Podiatry partial data536 graduates / yr9 institutions8 states
Show all 4 codes (1 with no U.S. programs reported)+
- Medicine51.1299
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Offered across 48 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 3 | — | — |
| Arizonalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Arkansaslimited | 2 | — | — |
| California | 15 | — | — |
| Coloradolimited | 2 | — | — |
| Connecticut | 4 | — | — |
| District of Columbia | 3 | — | — |
| Florida | 9 | — | — |
| Georgia | 4 | — | — |
| Hawaiilimited | 1 | — | — |
| Illinois | 10 | — | — |
| Indianalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Iowalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Kansaslimited | 1 | — | — |
| Kentucky | 3 | — | — |
| Louisiana | 3 | — | — |
| Mainelimited | 1 | — | — |
| Marylandlimited | 2 | — | — |
| Massachusetts | 4 | — | — |
| Michigan | 6 | — | — |
| Minnesotalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Mississippilimited | 2 | — | — |
| Missouri | 6 | — | — |
| Nebraskalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Nevada | 3 | — | — |
| New Hampshirelimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Jersey | 3 | — | — |
| New Mexicolimited | 2 | — | — |
| New York | 17 | — | — |
| North Carolina | 5 | — | — |
| North Dakotalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Ohio | 8 | — | — |
| Oklahomalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Oregonlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Pennsylvania | 9 | — | — |
| Rhode Islandlimited | 1 | — | — |
| South Carolinalimited | 2 | — | — |
| South Dakotalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Tennessee | 5 | — | — |
| Texas | 15 | — | — |
| Utahlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Vermontlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Virginia | 6 | — | — |
| Washington | 3 | — | — |
| West Virginia | 3 | — | — |
| Wisconsinlimited | 2 | — | — |
| Puerto Rico | 4 | — | — |
| Idaholimited | 1 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-1215, Family Medicine Physicians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Medicine program can pursue various careers in the health field, with a projected job growth rate of 2.7% and approximately 3,300 annual openings. The median wage for professionals in this field is $238,380, and most positions require a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Medicine
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 51.12.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 51.12 (Medicine) maps to 18 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 29-1081 | Podiatrists |
| 29-1211 | Anesthesiologists |
| 29-1212 | Cardiologists |
| 29-1213 | Dermatologists |
| 29-1214 | Emergency Medicine Physicians |
| 29-1215 | Family Medicine Physiciansprimary |
| 29-1216 | General Internal Medicine Physicians |
| 29-1217 | Neurologists |
| 29-1218 | Obstetricians and Gynecologists |
| 29-1221 | Pediatricians, General |
| 29-1222 | Physicians, Pathologists |
| 29-1223 | Psychiatrists |
| 29-1224 | Radiologists |
| 29-1229 | Physicians, All Other |
| 29-1241 | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| 29-1242 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric |
| 29-1243 | Pediatric Surgeons |
| 29-1249 | Surgeons, All Other |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Medicine programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Prescribe or administer treatment, therapy, medication, vaccination, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
- Order, perform, and interpret tests and analyze records, reports, and examination information to diagnose patients' condition.
- Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results.
- Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
- Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
- Advise patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, and disease prevention.
Common questions
What is the focus of the Medicine program?+
The program focuses on the science and practice of caring for patients, including diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of illnesses.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
Students will develop critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication skills, among others.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook for graduates is about 2.7% growth with approximately 3,300 annual openings.
What level of education is required?+
Most careers in Medicine require a doctoral or professional degree.
What is the CIP code for Medicine?+
Medicine maps to CIP 51.12 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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.
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