Best institutions to study Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
A program that focuses on the application of chemistry to the study of biologically and clinically active substances, biological and pharmacological interactions, and the development of associated research methods, techniques, and clinical trial procedures.
29 U.S. institutions graduated 188 Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.2004, a specialization of Pharmacy (CIP 51.20), and leads most directly to the Chemists occupation (BLS SOC 19-2031).
About Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry programs
A program that focuses on the application of chemistry to the study of biologically and clinically active substances, biological and pharmacological interactions, and the development of associated research methods, techniques, and clinical trial procedures. Includes instruction in organic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular graphics, rational drug design, toxicology, molecular biology, pharmacology, enzyme mechanisms, receptor theory, neurochemistry, drug metabolism, drug synthesis, biological mechanisms of drug action, research tools and techniques, and laboratory safety.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry program focuses on the intersection of chemistry and health sciences, specifically the study of biologically and clinically active substances. This program is designed for students interested in the development and analysis of pharmaceuticals, as well as the research methods and techniques used in clinical trials. Students will explore the chemical foundations of drug action and the interactions between drugs and biological systems.
Core coursework includes organic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, and toxicology. Students will develop critical skills in research techniques, laboratory safety, and rational drug design, equipping them for various roles in the pharmaceutical field.
Credentials awarded
What Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship88 graduates / yr · 17 institutions47%
- Master's degree79 graduates / yr · 17 institutions42%
- Bachelor's degree21 graduates / yr · 7 institutions11%
Graduates over time
Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 130 |
| 2013 | 168 |
| 2014 | 197 |
| 2015 | 187 |
| 2016 | 187 |
| 2017 | 182 |
| 2018 | 175 |
| 2019 | 182 |
| 2020 | 176 |
| 2021 | 161 |
| 2022 | 187 |
| 2023 | 211 |
| 2024 | 185 |
| 2025 | 188 |
Top 29 institutions for Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, 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 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 24 | 88% | — | $37,369 |
| 2 | New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJPublicMaster's | 22 | 73% | — | — |
| 3 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicDoctoralMaster's | 15 | 83% | — | $57,096 |
| 4 | University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NEPublicDoctoralMaster's | 14 | — | — | — |
| 5 | University of California - San Francisco San Francisco, CAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 12 | — | — | — |
| 6 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJPublicDoctoralMaster's | 10 | 84% | — | — |
| 7 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 9 | 80% | $24,886 | — |
| 8 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KSPublicDoctoralMaster's | 7 | 69% | — | — |
| 9 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 7 | 93% | — | — |
| 10 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, COPublicDoctoral | 6 | 46% | — | — |
| 11 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 6 | 85% | — | — |
| 12 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicDoctoral | 6 | 65% | — | — |
| 13 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicDoctoral | 6 | 85% | — | — |
| 14 | Northeastern University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 5 | 91% | $18,925 | — |
| 15 | University of Toledo Toledo, OHPublicDoctoral | 5 | 57% | — | $44,466 |
| 16 | Montclair State University Montclair, NJPublicMaster's | 4 | 65% | — | — |
| 17 | University of Dayton Dayton, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 80% | $28,560 | — |
| 18 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 79% | $34,418 | $57,889 |
| 19 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, ILPublicDoctoral | 3 | 62% | — | — |
| 20 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicMaster's | 3 | 75% | — | — |
| 21 | University of Puerto Rico - Medical Sciences San Juan, PRPublicMaster's | 3 | — | — | — |
| 22 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 75% | $19,899 | — |
| 23 | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 2 | 62% | $35,358 | $47,882 |
| 24 | Michigan Technological University Houghton, MIPublicBachelor's | 2 | 68% | — | — |
| 25 | University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 2 | 62% | $31,804 | — |
| 26 | Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | 77% | $32,060 | — |
| 27 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IAPublicDoctoral | 1 | 75% | — | — |
| 28 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, NCPublicDoctoral | 1 | 71% | — | — |
| 29 | Cleveland State University Cleveland, OHPublicBachelor's | 1 | 51% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Pharmacy field (CIP 51.20) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 19 states & territories
Where Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry graduates come from. Each state links to all Pharmacy programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-2031, Chemists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry program can pursue careers as chemists, medical scientists, or health specialties teachers. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 4.9% and approximately 6,300 annual openings. The median wage for these roles is $84,150, typically requiring at least a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.2004
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Chemistsprimary SOC 19-2031 | $91,240 | +4.9% About as fast as average | ~6,300 | 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 |
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1052 | $93,250 | +2.2% About as fast as average | ~1,900 | Doctoral or professional 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 Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry 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
- Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.
- Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.
- Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis.
- Conduct quality control tests.
- Write technical papers or reports or prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, or tests.
- Maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions when needed.
Tools and technology used
Other Pharmacy specializations
The 11 other 6-digit CIP codes under Pharmacy (CIP 51.20).
- PharmacyCIP 51.200111,406 graduates / yr144 institutions
- Pharmaceutical SciencesCIP 51.20102,563 graduates / yr79 institutions
- Industrial and Physical Pharmacy and Cosmetic SciencesCIP 51.2009909 graduates / yr11 institutions
- Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and AdministrationCIP 51.2099909 graduates / yr21 institutions
- Pharmaceutics and Drug DesignCIP 51.2003544 graduates / yr35 institutions
- Clinical and Industrial Drug DevelopmentCIP 51.2006250 graduates / yr13 institutions
- Pharmacy Administration and Pharmacy Policy and Regulatory AffairsCIP 51.2002179 graduates / yr11 institutions
- Pharmacoeconomics/CIP 51.2007
Pharmaceutical Economics 150 graduates / yr16 institutions - Natural Products Chemistry and PharmacognosyCIP 51.2005partial data130 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Pharmaceutical Marketing and ManagementCIP 51.2011partial data122 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Clinical, Hospital, and Managed Care PharmacyCIP 51.2008partial data28 graduates / yr5 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree in Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in science, critical thinking, and laboratory techniques.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a chemist, medical scientist, or health specialties teacher.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.9%.
What is the CIP code for Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry?+
Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry is CIP 51.2004 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Pharmacy (CIP 51.20). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the application of chemistry to the study of biologically and clinically active substances, biological and pharmacological interactions, and the development of associated research methods, techniques, and clinical trial procedures. Includes instruction in organic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular graphics, rational drug design, toxicology, molecular biology, pharmacology, enzyme mechanisms, receptor theory, neurochemistry, drug metabolism, drug synthesis, biological mechanisms of drug action, research tools and techniques, and laboratory safety.
How many institutions offer Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry programs?+
29 U.S. institutions reported Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 19 states & territories, awarding 188 credentials in the year. That is 1.1% of all Pharmacy graduates.
How much do Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Chemists occupation, which Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry most directly leads to, pays a median of $91,240 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Pharmacy field report median earnings of $47,882 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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