Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences: earnings, debt, and careers
CIP 26.09. Official graduate outcomes from the U.S. Department of Education across 537 programs, and the careers this field is linked to.
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate certificate | 9 | 201 | $50,538 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Associate's degree | 4 | 93 | Data unavailable | $21,971 | Data unavailable |
| Bachelor's degree | 179 | 8,087 | $35,467 | $62,172 | $22,595 99 programs |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2 | 0 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Master's degree | 192 | 2,083 | $48,297 | $67,681 | Data unavailable |
| Doctoral degree | 130 | 666 | $75,656 | $93,640 | Data unavailable |
| Professional degree (JD, MD, and similar) | 2 | 0 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Graduate certificate | 19 | 45 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Bachelor's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-San Marcos CA · Public · 28 graduates measured | $51,830 | Data unavailable | $15,000 |
| University of California-Davis CA · Public · 84 graduates measured | $48,363 | $66,461 | $13,222 |
| Lionel University CA · Private, for-profit · 20 graduates measured | $44,490 | Data unavailable | $27,084 |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus WA · Public · 91 graduates measured | $43,188 | $60,004 | $13,000 |
| University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh WI · Public · 45 graduates measured | $43,148 | $56,407 | $24,125 |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst MA · Public · 103 graduates measured | $42,550 | $74,422 | $25,187 |
| University of Connecticut CT · Public · 20 graduates measured | $41,966 | Data unavailable | $19,686 |
| University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus CT · Public · 20 graduates measured | $41,966 | Data unavailable | $19,686 |
| University of Connecticut-Avery Point CT · Public · 20 graduates measured | $41,966 | Data unavailable | $19,686 |
| University of Connecticut-Stamford CT · Public · 20 graduates measured | $41,966 | Data unavailable | $19,686 |
| University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus CT · Public · 20 graduates measured | $41,966 | Data unavailable | $19,686 |
| SUNY Brockport NY · Public · 32 graduates measured | $41,907 | $56,745 | $24,050 |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin WI · Private, nonprofit · 17 graduates measured | $41,716 | $55,340 | $27,000 |
| University of Colorado Boulder CO · Public · 128 graduates measured | $41,693 | $71,444 | $19,500 |
| The University of Tampa FL · Private, nonprofit · 35 graduates measured | $41,458 | Data unavailable | $22,595 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Master's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Virginia Medical School · Public · 16 graduates measured | $95,385 | $96,539 | Data unavailable |
| Old Dominion University VA · Public · 16 graduates measured | $95,385 | $96,539 | Data unavailable |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus OH · Public · 21 graduates measured | $92,693 | $138,085 | Data unavailable |
| Boston University MA · Private, nonprofit · 17 graduates measured | $65,144 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Washington State University WA · Public · 33 graduates measured | $61,007 | $63,925 | Data unavailable |
| Liberty University VA · Private, nonprofit · 256 graduates measured | $54,966 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| The College of Saint Scholastica MN · Private, nonprofit · 18 graduates measured | $53,629 | $53,631 | Data unavailable |
| Auburn University AL · Public · 37 graduates measured | $52,309 | $64,560 | Data unavailable |
| University of Florida FL · Public · 69 graduates measured | $51,572 | $60,313 | Data unavailable |
| Florida State University FL · Public · 25 graduates measured | $50,020 | $78,502 | Data unavailable |
| Dallas Baptist University TX · Private, nonprofit · 19 graduates measured | $48,295 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Central Michigan University MI · Public · 16 graduates measured | $45,825 | $54,829 | Data unavailable |
| University of Akron Main Campus OH · Public · 19 graduates measured | $45,084 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Teachers College at Columbia University NY · Private, nonprofit · 22 graduates measured | $44,778 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Long Island University NY · Private, nonprofit · 19 graduates measured | $43,544 | $60,600 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Doctoral degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus PA · Public · 16 graduates measured | $84,351 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Auburn University AL · Public · 16 graduates measured | $63,121 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural sciences managers | $167,220 | +8.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Biochemists and biophysicists | $127,410 | +12.3% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Biological scientists, all other | $98,920 | +4.7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Medical scientists, except epidemiologists | $103,410 | +12.6% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Biological science teachers, postsecondary | $84,620 | +7.3% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Health specialties teachers, postsecondary | $107,310 | +17.9% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Exercise physiologists | $59,460 | +12.8% | Bachelor's degree |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (13)
- 26.0901 Physiology, General
- 26.0902 Molecular Physiology
- 26.0903 Cell Physiology
- 26.0904 Endocrinology
- 26.0905 Reproductive Biology
- 26.0907 Cardiovascular Science
- 26.0908 Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology
- 26.0909 Vision Science/Physiological Optics
- 26.0910 Pathology/Experimental Pathology
- 26.0911 Oncology and Cancer Biology
- 26.0912 Aerospace Physiology and Medicine
- 26.0913 Biomechanics
- 26.0999 Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences, Other