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Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences Degree

62 schools compared · Average earnings $31,043/yr

Students study how organ systems function in health and disease, including cardiovascular, respiratory, neural, and endocrine physiology alongside the mechanisms of disease. Graduates typically pursue careers in medical research, pharmaceutical development, clinical laboratory science, and as top candidates for medical, dental, and physical therapy programs. This major provides the deepest understanding of human body function among biology specialties.

What Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences Graduates Do

Your degree will immerse you in the intricate mechanics of the human body, preparing you for careers at the forefront of health and discovery. Many graduates become medical scientists, working in labs to design experiments that unravel the mysteries of disease and develop new treatments. Your days could involve analyzing biological samples, testing drug compounds, and publishing findings that push medicine forward. Others pursue advanced degrees to become health specialties teachers, training future doctors and nurses in university classrooms and labs.

With experience, a successful scientist can advance to a natural sciences manager role, leading research teams and directing strategy. While the demand for medical scientists and educators is growing quickly, AI will reshape the work. With moderate exposure, expect AI to automate significant chunks of routine data analysis, freeing you to focus on complex problem-solving, experimental design, and interpreting results. Your career will depend on your adaptability and your ability to leverage these powerful new tools for discovery.

Schools Offering

Avg Grad Earnings

$31,043/yr

Avg DegreeOutlook Score

36/100

AI Automation Risk

High

51% task exposure

Common Career Paths

Where Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 60,300 combined openings per year.

Career Path	Salary Range	Openings/yr	Growth	AI Risk
Natural sciences managers	$161,180 $114K$215K	8,500	+3.7%	50%
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary	$105,620 $74K$176K	27,400	+17.3%	48%
Biochemists and biophysicists	$103,650 $79K$134K	2,900	+5.8%	45%
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists	$100,590 $77K$134K	9,600	+8.7%	52%
Biological scientists, all other	$93,330 $68K$121K	4,800	+1.2%	49%
Biological science teachers, postsecondary	$83,460 $64K$125K	5,400	+7.3%	47%
Exercise physiologists	$58,160 $49K–$65K	1,700	+9.5%	26%

Natural sciences managers

$161,180

$114K $215K

8,500 openings/yr +3.7% growth 50% AI risk

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

$105,620

$74K $176K

27,400 openings/yr +17.3% growth 48% AI risk

Biochemists and biophysicists

$103,650

$79K $134K

2,900 openings/yr +5.8% growth 45% AI risk

Medical scientists, except epidemiologists

$100,590

$77K $134K

9,600 openings/yr +8.7% growth 52% AI risk

Biological scientists, all other

$93,330

$68K $121K

4,800 openings/yr +1.2% growth 49% AI risk

Biological science teachers, postsecondary

$83,460

$64K $125K

5,400 openings/yr +7.3% growth 47% AI risk

Exercise physiologists

$58,160

$49K–$65K

1,700 openings/yr +9.5% growth 26% AI risk

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).

Best Schools for Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences

Top 20 of 62 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.

#	School	DW Score	Earnings	ROI
1	San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA	54 54–55	$36,707/yr	25.2x
2	Ohio University-Eastern Campus Saint Clairsville, OH	53 53–54	$36,886/yr	27.9x
3	Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus Chillicothe, OH	53 53–54	$36,886/yr	27.9x
4	Ohio University-Southern Campus Ironton, OH	53 53–54	$36,886/yr	27.9x
5	Ohio University-Lancaster Campus Lancaster, OH	53 53–54	$36,886/yr	27.9x
6	Ohio University-Zanesville Campus Zanesville, OH	53 53–54	$36,886/yr	27.9x
7	University of California-Davis Davis, CA	48 47–48	$37,550/yr	11.2x
8	Ohio University-Main Campus Athens, OH	47 47–48	$36,886/yr	12.0x
9	University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Waterbury, CT	46 44–47	$39,712/yr	8.8x
10	University of Connecticut-Avery Point Groton, CT	46 44–47	$39,712/yr	8.8x
11	University of Connecticut-Stamford Stamford, CT	46 44–47	$39,712/yr	8.8x
12	University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus Hartford, CT	46 44–47	$39,712/yr	8.8x
13	University of Connecticut Storrs, CT	45 43–45	$39,712/yr	7.4x
14	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA	43 44–44	$32,970/yr	12.7x
15	Brigham Young University Provo, UT	43 44–44	$25,101/yr	26.0x
16	University of Wyoming Laramie, WY	43 43–43	$23,766/yr	24.5x
17	University of Florida Gainesville, FL	42 43–43	$24,588/yr	25.2x
18	Florida State University Tallahassee, FL	42 43–43	$23,574/yr	29.1x
19	University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO	41 41–41	$33,926/yr	9.3x
20	University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA	41 42–42	$31,915/yr	10.0x
21	University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, NC	41 43–42	$30,779/yr	18.2x
22	Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA	41 42–41	$30,340/yr	15.5x
23	University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY	41 43–42	$29,123/yr	14.8x
24	Brigham Young University-Idaho Rexburg, ID	40 41–41	$25,831/yr	29.1x
25	Gettysburg College Gettysburg, PA	39 37–39	$37,977/yr	2.4x
26	California State University-San Marcos San Marcos, CA	39 38–39	$36,889/yr	10.9x
27	East Carolina University Greenville, NC	39 41–40	$27,494/yr	18.4x
28	West Virginia University Morgantown, WV	39 40–40	$24,463/yr	16.3x
29	University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA	39 39–39	$23,151/yr	13.0x
30	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN	38 40–39	$31,613/yr	9.4x
31	California State University-Chico Chico, CA	38 40–39	$25,952/yr	17.4x
32	Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA	38 39–39	$25,379/yr	17.0x
33	University of Arizona Tucson, AZ	37 39–38	$28,435/yr	11.1x
34	Michigan State University East Lansing, MI	36 37–37	$29,642/yr	9.3x
35	University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia, SC	36 37–36	$27,374/yr	11.4x
36	University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI	35 35–36	$35,727/yr	11.3x
37	University of Oregon Eugene, OR	35 37–36	$27,502/yr	9.9x
38	SUNY Brockport Brockport, NY	35 35–35	$22,986/yr	14.9x
39	Life University Marietta, GA	34 33–34	$36,662/yr	5.1x
40	Gonzaga University Spokane, WA	33 33–33	$33,486/yr	2.6x
41	The University of Montana Missoula, MT	32 33–33	$32,671/yr	9.0x
42	Midwestern State University Wichita Falls, TX	32 34–33	$27,539/yr	11.6x
43	University of Colorado Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, CO	31 32–32	$32,629/yr	7.4x
44	Wichita State University Wichita, KS	30 32–31	$32,125/yr	7.6x
45	College of Charleston Charleston, SC	30 32–31	$27,467/yr	9.4x
46	Kansas State University Manhattan, KS	29 31–30	$31,958/yr	6.3x
47	Ashland University Ashland, OH	29 30–30	$31,192/yr	4.1x
48	Boston University Boston, MA	27 27–28	$35,873/yr	0.4x
49	Marquette University Milwaukee, WI	27 28–28	$31,173/yr	2.4x
50	Auburn University Auburn, AL	27 28–27	$29,884/yr	5.0x
51	University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg, SC	27 28–28	$28,616/yr	8.7x
52	Ithaca College Ithaca, NY	24 25–25	$32,794/yr	1.9x
53	Oregon State University Corvallis, OR	24 25–25	$27,182/yr	4.0x
54	California Baptist University Riverside, CA	23 24–24	$31,146/yr	1.0x
55	Taylor University Upland, IN	22 24–23	$30,723/yr	1.0x
56	Skidmore College Saratoga Springs, NY	22 23–23	$30,632/yr	0.2x
57	Shenandoah University Winchester, VA	22 23–23	$24,058/yr	3.1x
58	Seattle Pacific University Seattle, WA	19 20–20	$26,478/yr	0.7x
59	Baldwin Wallace University Berea, OH	19 19–19	$21,454/yr	2.6x
60	University of Miami Coral Gables, FL	18 20–19	$28,243/yr	1.6x
61	Creighton University Omaha, NE	18 18–19	$23,926/yr	0.3x
62	Ursinus College Collegeville, PA	17 18–18	$26,123/yr	1.5x

Highest Earning Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences Programs

Schools where Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School	1-Year Earnings	DW Score
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus	$39,712/yr	46
University of Connecticut-Avery Point	$39,712/yr	46
University of Connecticut-Stamford	$39,712/yr	46
University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus	$39,712/yr	46
University of Connecticut	$39,712/yr	45
Gettysburg College	$37,977/yr	39
University of California-Davis	$37,550/yr	48
California State University-San Marcos	$36,889/yr	39
Ohio University-Eastern Campus	$36,886/yr	53
Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus	$36,886/yr	53

Best ROI for Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences.

School	ROI Multiple	Earnings	DW Score
Brigham Young University-Idaho	29.1x	$25,831/yr	40
Florida State University	29.1x	$23,574/yr	42
Ohio University-Eastern Campus	27.9x	$36,886/yr	53
Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus	27.9x	$36,886/yr	53
Ohio University-Southern Campus	27.9x	$36,886/yr	53
Ohio University-Lancaster Campus	27.9x	$36,886/yr	53
Ohio University-Zanesville Campus	27.9x	$36,886/yr	53
Brigham Young University	26.0x	$25,101/yr	43
University of Florida	25.2x	$24,588/yr	42
San Francisco State University	25.2x	$36,707/yr	54

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Consider the Trade Route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences graduates earn?

Across 62 schools, Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences graduates earn an average of $31,043 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $21,454 to $39,712 depending on the school.

What is the AI automation risk for Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences?

Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences is rated "High" for AI automation risk, with an average of 51% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means most career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.

Which school has the best Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences program?

Based on our DegreeOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), San Francisco State University ranks #1 for Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences with a score of 54/100 and graduate earnings of $36,707/yr.

What's the outlook for a Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences degree?

On average, Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences graduates earn 11.5x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a strong return on investment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →