# Medicine

> A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of medicine, involving the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of illnesses, injuries, and other disorders of the human body. Includes instruction in the basic medical sciences, clinical medicine, examination and diagnosis, patient communications, medical ethics and law, professional standards, and rotations in specialties such as internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, neurology, ophthalmology, radiology, clinical pathology, anesthesiology, family medicine, and psychiatry.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/medicine
- CIP code: 51.12 (Health Professions and Related Programs)
- Colleges offering it: 127 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Associate's | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 1 | $33,921 | $66,899 | $15,000 |
| Master's | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 20 | $64,775 | $117,209 | $198,648 |
| First professional | 127 | $66,193 | $106,465 | $197,595 |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Pediatric Surgeons](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/pediatric-surgeons): $559,030 median pay
- [Cardiologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cardiologists): $496,010 median pay
- [Radiologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/radiologists): $420,860 median pay
- [Surgeons, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/surgeons-all-other): $414,010 median pay
- [Anesthesiologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/anesthesiologists): $391,490 median pay
- [Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/orthopedic-surgeons-except-pediatric): $358,550 median pay
- [Emergency Medicine Physicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/emergency-medicine-physicians): $335,550 median pay
- [Dermatologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/dermatologists): $328,730 median pay
- [Physicians, Pathologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physicians-pathologists): $312,400 median pay
- [Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/ophthalmologists-except-pediatric): $300,080 median pay
- [Obstetricians and Gynecologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/obstetricians-and-gynecologists): $292,910 median pay
- [Psychiatrists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/psychiatrists): $281,870 median pay
- [Allergists and Immunologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/allergists-and-immunologists): $265,930 median pay
- [Hospitalists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hospitalists): $265,930 median pay
- [Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physical-medicine-and-rehabilitation-physicians): $265,930 median pay
- [Physicians, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physicians-all-other): $265,930 median pay
- [Preventive Medicine Physicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/preventive-medicine-physicians): $265,930 median pay
- [Sports Medicine Physicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sports-medicine-physicians): $265,930 median pay
- [Urologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/urologists): $265,930 median pay
- [General Internal Medicine Physicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/general-internal-medicine-physicians): $256,560 median pay
- [Neurologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/neurologists): $248,560 median pay
- [Family Medicine Physicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/family-medicine-physicians): $244,180 median pay
- [Pediatricians, General](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/pediatricians-general): $210,040 median pay
- [Podiatrists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/podiatrists): $160,300 median pay

## More in Health Professions and Related Programs

- [Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/registered-nursing-nursing-administration-nursing-research-and-clinical-nursing): 1,111 colleges
- [Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/allied-health-diagnostic-intervention-and-treatment-professions): 930 colleges
- [Health and Medical Administrative Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/health-and-medical-administrative-services): 890 colleges
- [Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/practical-nursing-vocational-nursing-and-nursing-assistants): 864 colleges
- [Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/allied-health-and-medical-assisting-services): 796 colleges
- [Public Health](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/public-health): 540 colleges
- [Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/health-services-allied-health-health-sciences-general): 461 colleges
- [Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/mental-and-social-health-services-and-allied-professions): 424 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/