by our College Data Analytics TeamPharmacology was the 589th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 479 degrees in this year alone. This 27 less than the prior year, a decrease of 5.6%.
Our 2023 Best Pharmacology Schools ranking analyzes 46 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for pharmacology students. Explore this or one of our many other custom pharmacology rankings further below.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents is a required skill for pharmacology majors. Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience and talking to others to convey information effectively are all required skills for careers related to this major.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most pharmacology degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional pharmacology certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Pharmacology degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in pharmacology to the highest pharmacology degree, a . The type of pharmacology degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to pharmacology, with approximately 26.5% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for pharmacology workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-Doctoral Training | 26.4% |
| Doctoral Degree | 25.7% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 25.2% |
| Master’s Degree | 14.8% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 2.4% |
About 50.7% of workers in careers related to pharmacology obtain at least doctor's degrees. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in pharmacology careers have.
This of course varies depending on which pharmacology career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your pharmacology degree? Pharmacology careers are expected to grow 12.3% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to pharmacology.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists | 136,100 | 13.4% |
| Biological Science Professors | 71,700 | 15.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 62,300 | 9.9% |
| Biological Scientists | 41,800 | 8.0% |
As you might expect, salaries for pharmacology graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for pharmacology graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers pharmacology grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | $139,680 |
| Biological Science Professors | $97,340 |
| Medical Scientists | $96,420 |
| Biological Scientists | $83,600 |
With over 127 different pharmacology degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased pharmacology school rankings to help you with this.
One of 7 majors within the Pharmacology & Toxicology area of study, Pharmacology has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Pharmacology & Toxicology | 200 |
| Toxicology | 176 |
| Environmental Toxicology | 89 |
| Molecular Pharmacology | 55 |
| Neuropharmacology | 22 |
Image Credit: By Fvasconcellos under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
