by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you would like to combine your passion for art with the world of medicine, consider majoring in Medical Illustration and Informatics.
Students typically decide to focus on Medical Illustration or Medical Informatics and take separate classes based on their desired concentration. A Medical Illustration concentration includes classes in graphic design, studio arts, biology, design, anatomy, computer-aided design, and physiology to develop visual tools that aid in medical education.
A concentration in Medical Informatics involves classes in statistics, information technology, legal, ethical, and social issues, and biostatics to learn how to collect and store medical information, so it is readily available to medical professionals. Both of these majors result in careers providing essential information to doctors allowing them to successfully treat their patients.
Medical Illustration & Informatics was the 193rd most popular major in the 2021-2022 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 2,163 degrees in this year alone. This year's Best Medical Illustration & Informatics Schools ranking compares 53 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom medical illustration rankings further below.
Students who are interested in pursuing a career in Medical Illustration and Informatics should be critical and analytical thinkers with a background in computers. You will use different software systems to build medical models or collect and analyze information. Students should also be detail oriented and work to ensure illustrations and information is accurate.
A Medical Illustrations and Informatics degree often leads to a to a fulltime career in the medical field. Illustrators work in offices designing a variety of educational tools, while informatics professionals spend their time on the computer working with software and inputting and analyzing data.
medical illustration & informatics degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Once you obtain your degree, additional medical illustration certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Medical Illustration degree levels vary. Medical Illustration & Informatics programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest medical illustration degree you can get. The type of medical illustration 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 medical illustration, with approximately 57.7% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to medical illustration tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 60.9% |
| Master’s Degree | 17.9% |
| Some College Courses | 7.3% |
| High School Diploma | 4.3% |
| Doctoral Degree | 4.2% |
About 82.8% of workers in careers related to medical illustration obtain at least bachelor's degrees. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in medical illustration & informatics have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the medical illustration career you are seeking.
Medical Illustration and Informatics graduates find jobs working for medical companies, hospitals, and medical centers. Medical Illustration graduates have gone on to work for companies that manufacture learning materials to colleges or training aids. Medical Informatics majors are employed by a variety of IT departments in the medical field. This field is growing at an average rate, providing many jobs for recent graduates.
Want a job when you graduate with your medical illustration degree? Medical Illustration & Informatics careers are expected to grow 24.6% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to medical illustration & informatics.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Software Applications Developers | 1,086,600 | 30.7% |
| Computer Workers | 313,800 | 9.3% |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | 33,200 | 19.0% |
| Fine Artists | 29,900 | 6.8% |
Recently graduated medical illustration & informatics students earned an average of $81,008 in <nil>. Earnings can range from as low as $25,345 to as high as $156,890. As you might expect, salaries for medical illustration graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for medical illustration & informatics graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers medical illustration grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $123,850 |
| Software Applications Developers | $108,080 |
| Computer Workers | $93,350 |
| Fine Artists | $58,370 |
With over 272 different medical illustration 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 medical illustration school rankings to help you with this.
One of 34 majors within the Health Professions area of study, Medical Illustration & Informatics has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Medical Informatics | 2,076 |
| Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator | 83 |
| Other Medical Illustration and Informatics | 4 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Nursing | 319,502 |
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 88,600 |
| Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 85,339 |
| Allied Health Professions | 83,905 |
| Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services | 83,587 |
