Medicine is a focused area of study within Health. Graduates typically earn around $66,978 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. The program is available at 193 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 29,206 students complete this program each year, most earning a certificate. Training is clinical and hands-on, often leading to licensure or certification.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$33,290
Median Earnings · 4yr
$66,978
Colleges Offering
193
Graduates / Year
29,206
Avg Net Price / yr
$23,159
How Much Do Medicine Graduates Earn?
Medicine graduates earn $66,978 four years out, above the national median for college graduates. Earnings typically jump significantly in the first few years. The one-year figure of $33,290 climbs to $66,978 by year four.
$33,290
1 Year After Graduation
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$66,978
4-Year National Median
Above the national median for college graduates.
$66,899
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 29,206 students who complete Medicine programs each year, the majority (100%) earn a certificate degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
100%
Certificate100%
What Can You Do With a Medicine Degree?
Medicine connects to 8 occupations in the job market. Cardiologist leads at $496,010/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Doctoral or professional degree600 openings/yr17K employed nationally
Day-to-day responsibilities
Diagnose, treat, manage, and prevent diseases or conditions of the cardiovascular system. May further subspecialize in interventional procedures (e.g., balloon angioplasty and stent placement), echocardiography, or electrophysiology.
Diagnose and treat diseases and injuries using medical imaging techniques, such as x rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, and ultrasounds. May perform minimally invasive medical procedures and tests.
Prepare comprehensive interpretive reports of findings.
Perform or interpret the outcomes of diagnostic imaging procedures including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), nuclear cardiology treadmill studies, mammography, or ultrasound.
Document the performance, interpretation, or outcomes of all procedures performed.
Doctoral or professional degree1,000 openings/yr33K employed nationally
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionSocial PerceptivenessSpeaking
Day-to-day responsibilities
Make immediate medical decisions and act to prevent death or further disability. Provide immediate recognition, evaluation, care, stabilization, and disposition of patients. May direct emergency medical staff in an emergency department.
Select, request, perform, or interpret diagnostic procedures, such as laboratory tests, electrocardiograms, emergency ultrasounds, and radiographs.
Evaluate patients' vital signs or laboratory data to determine emergency intervention needs and priority of treatment.
Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Includes medical examiners.
Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.
Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.
Write pathology reports summarizing analyses, results, and conclusions.
Doctoral or professional degree300 openings/yr9K employed nationally
Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningComplex Problem SolvingWriting
Day-to-day responsibilities
Diagnose and perform surgery to treat and help prevent disorders and diseases of the eye. May also provide vision services for treatment including glasses and contacts.
Perform comprehensive examinations of the visual system to determine the nature or extent of ocular disorders.
Diagnose or treat injuries, disorders, or diseases of the eye and eye structures including the cornea, sclera, conjunctiva, or eyelids.
Provide or direct the provision of postoperative care.
Top Colleges for Medicine
The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Medicine students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Medicine program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Strong earnings and positive career growth make Medicine a solid option. The 3 strengths and 2 trade-offs below are data-sourced from College Scorecard, BLS, and IPEDS.
PROS
Above-average earningsFour-year median of $66,978 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science programs.
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $33,290 at graduation to $66,978 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Positive job outlookRelated careers project up to +6.4% job growth over the next 10 years, a solid signal for long-term demand.
CONS
Licensure often requiredMost roles in this field require state licensure or certification before you can practice. Budget time and costs for board exams alongside your degree.
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Medicine Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Medicine graduates earn?
Medicine graduates earn a national median of $66,978 four years after completing their program. The middle 50% of earners fall between below median and $80,178. Where you land typically depends on employer, role, and location.
What is the starting salary for a Medicine degree?
One year after graduation, Medicine degree holders earn a median of $33,290. That climbs to $66,978 four years out. The biggest salary jumps typically come once you move past entry-level roles.
What jobs can you get with a Medicine degree?
Medicine degree holders pursue careers including Cardiologist, which pays a median of $496,010/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.
How long does a Medicine program take?
Most Medicine certificate programs take one to two years of full-time study. Some are available in as little as one semester at community colleges.
How many colleges offer Medicine?
193 colleges and universities in the United States offer Medicine programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.
Is a Medicine degree worth it?
With a median 4-year salary of $66,978 and an average net price of roughly $23,159/yr, a Medicine degree can pay off well, especially at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific programs before deciding.
What is the difference between Medicine and Health?
Medicine is a focused concentration within the broader Health field. The Health major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Medicine-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. If you already know this is the direction you want, the specialized program gives you a more targeted credential.
What skills do employers look for in Medicine graduates?
Employers hiring Medicine graduates consistently prioritize clinical judgment, patient communication, and evidence-based decision-making. Licensure, certifications, and supervised clinical hours are typically required or strongly preferred in most roles.
Is graduate school worth it for Medicine graduates?
In health fields, advanced degrees (nurse practitioner, physician assistant, doctor of physical therapy) typically unlock significantly higher salaries and expanded scope of practice, making graduate education a strong investment for most students. The right answer depends on your career goals, program cost, and whether your target role explicitly rewards an advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Medicine graduates?
The job outlook for Medicine graduates is moderate overall. Related occupations project an average of +4.0% job growth over the next 10 years. Dermatologists is among the strongest-growth roles at +6.4%. Growth varies by role and location, so check the Career Paths section for projections on each specific occupation.
Related Health Programs
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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