Best institutions to study Toxicology
A program that focuses on the scientific study of poisons and other biohazards; their interactions with organisms and their food and respiratory systems; and their prevention, management, and counteraction.
28 U.S. institutions graduated 173 Toxicology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 26.1004, a specialization of Pharmacology and Toxicology (CIP 26.10), and leads most directly to the Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health occupation (BLS SOC 19-2041).
About Toxicology programs
A program that focuses on the scientific study of poisons and other biohazards; their interactions with organisms and their food and respiratory systems; and their prevention, management, and counteraction. Includes instruction in toxicological biochemistry, toxic agents and transporters, toxin fate, toxicokinetics and metabolism, toxin classification, molecular toxic mechanisms, extracellular matrices and cell function, bacterial pathogenesis and mutagenesis, pathophysiology and apoptosis, cell stress and injury, studies of specific toxins, and studies of specific organ systems and physiological functions in relation to toxicological problems.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Toxicology program, part of the broader field of Pharmacology and Toxicology, focuses on the scientific study of poisons and biohazards, exploring their interactions with living organisms. This program is designed for students interested in understanding toxic agents, their effects on health, and strategies for prevention and management of toxicological issues.
Students in the Toxicology program will gain knowledge in toxicological biochemistry, toxin classification, and the molecular mechanisms of toxicity. Coursework also covers toxicokinetics, pathophysiology, and the impact of toxins on various organ systems.
Credentials awarded
What Toxicology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship70 graduates / yr · 19 institutions41%
- Master's degree51 graduates / yr · 15 institutions30%
- Bachelor's degree45 graduates / yr · 6 institutions26%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate7 graduates / yr · 3 institutions4.0%
Graduates over time
Toxicology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 214 |
| 2013 | 251 |
| 2014 | 266 |
| 2015 | 237 |
| 2016 | 198 |
| 2017 | 209 |
| 2018 | 196 |
| 2019 | 191 |
| 2020 | 173 |
| 2021 | 171 |
| 2022 | 193 |
| 2023 | 173 |
| 2024 | 151 |
| 2025 | 173 |
Top 28 institutions for Toxicology, 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 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, COPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 24 | 67% | — | — |
| 2 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicBachelor's | 21 | 86% | — | — |
| 3 | University of Louisiana at Monroe Monroe, LAPublicBachelor's | 13 | 54% | — | $20,063 |
| 4 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IAPublicDoctoral | 10 | 75% | — | — |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NCPublicDoctoralMaster's | 10 | 91% | — | — |
| 6 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicMaster'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 10 | 70% | — | — |
| 7 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KYPublicDoctoralMaster's | 9 | 71% | — | — |
| 8 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJPublicDoctoralMaster's | 9 | 84% | — | — |
| 9 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 7 | 93% | — | — |
| 10 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NYPublicBachelor's | 7 | 56% | — | — |
| 11 | University of Rochester Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 7 | 85% | $25,874 | — |
| 12 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicDoctoralMaster's | 7 | 84% | — | — |
| 13 | Duke University Durham, NCPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 5 | 97% | $16,260 | — |
| 14 | Texas Southern University Houston, TXPublicDoctoral | 4 | 22% | — | — |
| 15 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, COPublicDoctoral | 3 | 46% | — | — |
| 16 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 3 | 90% | — | — |
| 17 | University of Maryland Eastern Shore Princess Anne, MDPublicDoctoralMaster's | 3 | 35% | — | — |
| 18 | St. John's University - New York Queens, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 3 | 66% | $27,359 | — |
| 19 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NCPublicDoctoralMaster's | 3 | 85% | — | — |
| 20 | Clemson University Clemson, SCPublicDoctoralMaster's | 3 | 87% | — | — |
| 21 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicDoctoralMaster's | 3 | 83% | — | — |
| 22 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KSPublicDoctoral | 2 | 69% | — | — |
| 23 | Ashland University Ashland, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 61% | $21,785 | — |
| 24 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicDoctoral | 1 | 93% | — | — |
| 25 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, INPublicMaster's | 1 | 54% | — | — |
| 26 | Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MSPublicDoctoral | 1 | 67% | — | — |
| 27 | Nazareth University Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 73% | $27,945 | — |
| 28 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OKPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 68% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Pharmacology and Toxicology field (CIP 26.10) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 20 states
Where Toxicology graduates come from. Each state links to all Pharmacology and Toxicology programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-2041, Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Toxicology program can pursue careers as Environmental Scientists, Medical Scientists, or Health Specialties Teachers, among others. The job outlook for this field is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 4.4% and approximately 8,500 annual job openings. The median wage for professionals in this area is $80,060, typically requiring at least a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 26.1004
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Healthprimary SOC 19-2041 | $82,220 | +4.4% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1071 | $107,310 | +17.3% Much faster than average | ~27,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists SOC 19-1042 | $103,410 | +8.7% Much faster than average | ~9,600 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Natural Sciences Managers SOC 11-9121 | $167,220 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1042 | $84,620 | +7.3% Faster than average | ~5,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Biological Scientists, All Other SOC 19-1029 | $98,920 | +1.2% Little or no change | ~4,800 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Toxicology 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
- Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
- Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
- Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.
- Review and implement environmental technical standards, guidelines, policies, and formal regulations that meet all appropriate requirements.
- Provide scientific or technical guidance, support, coordination, or oversight to governmental agencies, environmental programs, industry, or the public.
- Process and review environmental permits, licenses, or related materials.
Tools and technology used
Other Pharmacology and Toxicology specializations
The 7 other 6-digit CIP codes under Pharmacology and Toxicology (CIP 26.10).
- PharmacologyCIP 26.1001495 graduates / yr53 institutions
- Pharmacology and ToxicologyCIP 26.1007234 graduates / yr15 institutions
- Molecular PharmacologyCIP 26.100282 graduates / yr13 institutions
- Environmental ToxicologyCIP 26.100669 graduates / yr12 institutions
- Pharmacology and ToxicologyCIP 26.1099partial data44 graduates / yr4 institutions
- NeuropharmacologyCIP 26.1003partial data38 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Molecular ToxicologyCIP 26.1005limited data3 graduates / yr1 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree, as well as a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, science, communication, and active learning.
What types of jobs can I get after graduation?+
Graduates can work as Environmental Scientists, Medical Scientists, or Health Specialties Teachers.
What is the job outlook for toxicology graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.4% and around 8,500 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Toxicology?+
Toxicology is CIP 26.1004 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Pharmacology and Toxicology (CIP 26.10). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the scientific study of poisons and other biohazards; their interactions with organisms and their food and respiratory systems; and their prevention, management, and counteraction. Includes instruction in toxicological biochemistry, toxic agents and transporters, toxin fate, toxicokinetics and metabolism, toxin classification, molecular toxic mechanisms, extracellular matrices and cell function, bacterial pathogenesis and mutagenesis, pathophysiology and apoptosis, cell stress and injury, studies of specific toxins, and studies of specific organ systems and physiological functions in relation to toxicological problems.
How many institutions offer Toxicology programs?+
28 U.S. institutions reported Toxicology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 20 states, awarding 173 credentials in the year. That is 15.2% of all Pharmacology and Toxicology graduates.
How much do Toxicology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health occupation, which Toxicology most directly leads to, pays a median of $82,220 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Pharmacology and Toxicology field report median earnings of $20,063 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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