Best institutions to study Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences
Any instructional program in physiology, pathology, and related sciences not listed above.
10 U.S. institutions graduated 218 Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 26.0999, a specialization of Physiology (CIP 26.09), and leads most directly to the Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1042).
About Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences programs
Any instructional program in physiology, pathology, and related sciences not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Physiology program focuses on the study of physiological processes, pathology, and related sciences. It is designed for students interested in understanding the functions and mechanisms of living organisms, particularly in the context of health and disease. This program is ideal for those aspiring to careers in medical research, healthcare, or academia.
Learn more about Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences →
Students in the Physiology program will develop core skills in writing, critical thinking, and scientific analysis. Coursework typically covers topics in biology, chemistry, and mathematics, equipping students with the knowledge necessary to conduct research and evaluate health-related issues.
Credentials awarded
What Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree113 graduates / yr · 2 institutions52%
- Master's degree95 graduates / yr · 3 institutions44%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship9 graduates / yr · 4 institutions4.1%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.5%
Graduates over time
Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 47 |
| 2013 | 37 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 60 |
| 2018 | 86 |
| 2019 | 92 |
| 2020 | 158 |
| 2021 | 146 |
| 2022 | 132 |
| 2023 | 215 |
| 2024 | 148 |
| 2025 | 218 |
Top 10 institutions for Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences, 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 Delaware Newark, DEPublicMaster's | 85 | 81% | — | — |
| 2 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor's | 76 | 86% | — | $37,550 |
| 3 | Wheaton College Wheaton, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 37 | 85% | $23,461 | — |
| 4 | San Diego State University San Diego, CAPublicMaster's | 7 | 76% | — | — |
| 5 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 3 | 94% | $11,888 | — |
| 6 | East Carolina University Greenville, NCPublicDoctoral | 3 | 63% | — | $27,494 |
| 7 | Temple University Philadelphia, PAPublicMaster's | 3 | 75% | — | — |
| 8 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, INPublicDoctoral | 2 | 54% | — | — |
| 9 | Maharishi International University Fairfield, IAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 1 | 50% | $19,927 | — |
| 10 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KYPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 71% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Physiology field (CIP 26.09) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 9 states
Where Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences graduates come from. Each state links to all Physiology programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 1 | 85 | University of Delaware85 / yr |
| California | 2 | 83 | University of California - Davis76 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 37 | Wheaton College37 / yr |
| Maryland | 1 | 3 | Johns Hopkins University3 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 3 | East Carolina University3 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 3 | Temple University3 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 2 | Indiana University - Indianapolis2 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 1 | Maharishi International University1 / yr |
| Kentucky | 1 | 1 | University of Kentucky1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1042, Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Physiology program can pursue careers as medical scientists or health specialties teachers. The job outlook for medical scientists is much faster than average, with an expected growth of 8.7% and approximately 9,600 annual openings. The median wage for this field is $100,590, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 26.0999
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologistsprimary SOC 19-1042 | $103,410 | +8.7% Much faster than average | ~9,600 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1071 | $107,310 | +17.3% Much faster than average | ~27,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- 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).
- Experience
- 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.
- Training
- 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.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences 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
- Follow strict safety procedures when handling toxic materials to avoid contamination.
- Evaluate effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microorganisms at various levels.
- Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
- Prepare and analyze organ, tissue, and cell samples to identify toxicity, bacteria, or microorganisms or to study cell structure.
- Conduct research to develop methodologies, instrumentation, and procedures for medical application, analyzing data and presenting findings to the scientific audience and general public.
- Teach principles of medicine and medical and laboratory procedures to physicians, residents, students, and technicians.
Tools and technology used
Other Physiology specializations
The 12 other 6-digit CIP codes under Physiology (CIP 26.09).
- Exercise Physiology and KinesiologyCIP 26.09088,332 graduates / yr155 institutions
- PhysiologyCIP 26.09013,004 graduates / yr70 institutions
- Pathology/CIP 26.0910
Experimental Pathology 306 graduates / yr36 institutions - Oncology and Cancer BiologyCIP 26.0911235 graduates / yr31 institutions
- Vision Science/CIP 26.0909
Physiological Optics 219 graduates / yr12 institutions - BiomechanicsCIP 26.0913partial data70 graduates / yr6 institutions
- Cardiovascular ScienceCIP 26.0907partial data61 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Molecular PhysiologyCIP 26.0902partial data44 graduates / yr9 institutions
- Aerospace Physiology and MedicineCIP 26.0912partial data40 graduates / yr3 institutions
- Cell PhysiologyCIP 26.0903partial data32 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Reproductive BiologyCIP 26.0905partial data31 graduates / yr3 institutions
- EndocrinologyCIP 26.0904limited data6 graduates / yr2 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?+
You will develop skills in writing, critical thinking, active learning, and scientific analysis.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a medical scientist or a health specialties teacher, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with 8.7% growth and about 9,600 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences?+
Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences is CIP 26.0999 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Physiology (CIP 26.09). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in physiology, pathology, and related sciences not listed above.
How many institutions offer Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences programs?+
10 U.S. institutions reported Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 9 states, awarding 218 credentials in the year. That is 1.7% of all Physiology graduates.
How much do Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists occupation, which Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences most directly leads to, pays a median of $103,410 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Physiology field report median earnings of $37,550 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.
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