# Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences

> A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the functional dynamics, morphology, and biochemical and biophysical communications within organisms and between living systems at all levels of complexity and integration. Includes instruction in reproduction, growth, hormonal action, vascular function, respiration, digestion, sensory perception and processing, sensorimotor integration, signal encoding and conveyance, homeostasis, physical function and malfunction, evolutionary physiology, and disease processes.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/physiology-pathology-and-related-sciences
- CIP code: 26.09 (Biological and Biomedical Sciences)
- Colleges offering it: 169 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 | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Associate's | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 169 | $36,093 | $59,744 | $20,500 |
| Master's | 148 | $44,314 | $64,242 | $40,495 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 101 | $73,736 | $102,548 | not reported |
| First professional | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 18 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Nova Southeastern University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/nova-southeastern-university-1975) | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $122,809 | $12,500 |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Washington, DC | $81,548 | not reported |
| [Marquette University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/marquette-university-1598) | Milwaukee, WI | $78,125 | $23,166 |
| [California Baptist University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-baptist-university-348) | Riverside, CA | $76,789 | $23,000 |
| [Ithaca College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ithaca-college-1313) | Ithaca, NY | $76,318 | $19,500 |
| [Gettysburg College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/gettysburg-college-1081) | Gettysburg, PA | $75,320 | $26,000 |
| [University of Massachusetts-Amherst](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-massachusetts-amherst-umass-main-campus-2950) | Amherst, MA | $74,422 | $23,500 |
| [Creighton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/creighton-university-722) | Omaha, NE | $74,391 | $25,580 |
| [The College of Saint Scholastica](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-college-of-saint-scholastica-2738) | Duluth, MN | $74,020 | $21,000 |
| [University of Florida](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-florida-2910) | Gainesville, FL | $73,679 | $11,838 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Clinical Research Coordinators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/clinical-research-coordinators): $167,220 median pay
- [Natural Sciences Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/natural-sciences-managers): $167,220 median pay
- [Water Resource Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/water-resource-specialists): $167,220 median pay
- [Biochemists and Biophysicists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biochemists-and-biophysicists): $127,410 median pay
- [Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/health-specialties-teachers-postsecondary): $107,310 median pay
- [Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-scientists-except-epidemiologists): $103,410 median pay
- [Bioinformatics Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/bioinformatics-scientists): $98,920 median pay
- [Biological Scientists, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biological-scientists-all-other): $98,920 median pay
- [Biologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biologists): $98,920 median pay
- [Geneticists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/geneticists): $98,920 median pay
- [Molecular and Cellular Biologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/molecular-and-cellular-biologists): $98,920 median pay
- [Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biological-science-teachers-postsecondary): $84,620 median pay
- [Exercise Physiologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/exercise-physiologists): $59,460 median pay

## More in Biological and Biomedical Sciences

- [Biology, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/biology-general): 1,326 colleges
- [Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/biochemistry-biophysics-and-molecular-biology): 709 colleges
- [Neurobiology and Neurosciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/neurobiology-and-neurosciences): 316 colleges
- [Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/ecology-evolution-systematics-and-population-biology): 251 colleges
- [Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/biomathematics-bioinformatics-and-computational-biology): 119 colleges
- [Microbiological Sciences and Immunology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/microbiological-sciences-and-immunology): 111 colleges
- [Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/cell-cellular-biology-and-anatomical-sciences): 101 colleges
- [Zoology/Animal Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/zoology-animal-biology): 97 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/