HEALTH Specialization

Medical Illustration

Only 8 colleges in the country offer Medical Illustration, which means graduates enter the workforce from a smaller, more specialized pool. Median earnings four years out: $51,128.

About Medical Illustration

This page covers Medical Illustration as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Health and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Medical Illustration is a focused area of study within Health. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $51,128 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 8 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 116 students complete it each year, most walking away with a post-bacc cert.. Training is clinical and hands-on, often leading to licensure or certification.


Median Earnings · 4yr
$51,128
Colleges Offering
8
Graduates / Year
116
Avg Net Price / yr
$14,956

How Much Do Medical Illustration Graduates Earn?

Four years after finishing Medical Illustration, a typical graduate earns $51,128, below average for bachelor's degree holders. Source: College Scorecard.

What that figure means in practice depends on what the degree cost to get, which is a matter of lifetime earnings against total outlay.

$51,128
4-Year National Median

Below average for bachelor's degree holders.

$50,826
4-Year Institutional Median

Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 116 students who complete Medical Illustration programs each year, the majority (50%) earn a post-bacc cert. degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

Post-Bacc Cert. 50%
Master's 36%
Certificate 7%

What Can You Do With a Medical Illustration Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Medical Illustration graduates show up in 8 different occupations, and Cardiologist pays the most at $496,010/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what a Cardiologist earns and how fast the role is growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↗ +4.8%
$496,010
$274K $610K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 500 openings/yr 17K employed nationally
↗ +3.4%
$420,860
$217K $506K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 700 openings/yr 27K employed nationally
↗ +3.6%
$391,490
$207K $491K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 1,100 openings/yr 39K employed nationally
↗ +4.0%
$358,550
$181K $531K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 400 openings/yr 14K employed nationally
↗ +3.2%
$335,550
$185K $419K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 900 openings/yr 33K employed nationally
↗ +6.8%
$328,730
$140K $452K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 400 openings/yr 11K employed nationally
↗ +4.8%
$312,400
$186K $373K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 300 openings/yr 11K employed nationally
↗ +4.5%
$300,080
$174K $422K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 200 openings/yr 9K employed nationally

Top Colleges for Medical Illustration

Only 1 colleges had enough verified data to appear here for Medical Illustration. They are sorted by graduate volume, not selectivity, so use them as a starting point rather than a ranking.

Ranked by score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at Maharishi International University, and the rest follow the same measures.

# College Graduates Acceptance Net Price/yr Earnings 10yr
1 Maharishi International University Fairfield, IA · Nonprofit 15 95.7% $14,956 $27,981

Ranked by Medical Illustration graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Medical Illustration program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

Medical Illustration Degree: Pros & Cons

The data on Medical Illustration shows 1 measurable strengths and 3 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.

PROS
  • Positive job outlook Related careers project up to +6.8% job growth over the next 10 years, a solid signal for long-term demand.
CONS
  • Modest median earnings Four-year median of $51,128 lags STEM and business fields, affecting ROI at higher-cost programs.
  • Licensure often required Most roles in this field require state licensure or certification before you can practice. Budget time and costs for board exams alongside your degree.
  • Limited program availability Only 8 colleges offer this program nationally, which may limit geographic flexibility when choosing a school.

Medical Illustration Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Medical Illustration graduates earn?
$51,128 is the national median four years after finishing the program. The full spread above and below that figure has not been reported, so treat it as a midpoint rather than what any one graduate will earn. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Medical Illustration degree?
Cardiologist is one path, and it pays a median of $496,010 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Medical Illustration program take?
One to two years for a post-baccalaureate Medical Illustration certificate. It is built for people who already hold a bachelor's degree and want a focused credential rather than a full second degree.
How many colleges offer Medical Illustration?
8 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Medical Illustration degree worth it?
$51,128 median earnings four years out against $14,956 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Medical Illustration and Health?
Medical Illustration is the narrower of the two: Health covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Medical Illustration-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Medical Illustration graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Medical Illustration graduates consistently look for clinical judgment, patient communication, and evidence-based decision-making. Licensure, certifications, and supervised clinical hours are typically required or strongly preferred in most roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Medical Illustration graduates?
Often, yes. Advanced degrees in this field (nurse practitioner, physician assistant, doctor of physical therapy) typically come with significantly higher pay and a wider scope of practice, which is why most students in health fields eventually go back for one. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Medical Illustration graduates?
Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +4.4% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Dermatologists are among the strongest-growth roles at +6.8%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.

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