by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 37 U.S. colleges awarded 334 degrees and certificates in Health/Medical Physics. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 78% of graduates. College Factual ranks 12 schools in its 2027 Best Health/Medical Physics Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $51,160 one year after completing, rising to $70,680 after four years.
A major in Health/Medical Physics explores Health/medical Physics. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Physics, Nuclear Science, And Engineering Physics To Diagnostic, Treatment, And Therapeutic Processes And Public Health Protection. Includes Instruction In Radiation Biophysics, Biophysics, Health Effects Of Natural And Artificially Induced Radiation, Hazard Evaluation, Environmental Radioactivity, Nuclear Physics, Engineering Physics, Radiobiology, Medical Radiology, Calibration And Dosage Theory, Computer Applications And Medical Informatics, And Specific Research Problems. Examples: [Biomedical Physics].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, health/medical physics is a widely-pursued major, with 334 degrees awarded annually. 37 colleges award health/medical physics degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 40.
By level, the 334 awards include 31 bachelor’s degrees, 262 master’s degrees and 41 doctorates.
Women earned 37% of health/medical physics degrees and certificates in the latest year (124 of 334). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (168) and Asian (40), and international students earned 58.
College Factual ranks 12 schools in its 2027 Best Health/Medical Physics Schools ranking, including 6 for bachelor’s degrees, 8 for master’s degrees and 2 for doctorates. It also ranks health/medical physics schools within 9 states. In all, 37 colleges offer health/medical physics programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Health/Medical Physics Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common health/medical physics credential is the master’s degree: 262 of the 334 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to health/medical physics call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Instructing, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Computers and Electronics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a health/medical physics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 31 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 262 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 41 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to health/medical physics, at 32.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 32.7% |
| Master’s degree | 31.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 20.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Health/Medical Physics, with an average median salary of $79,708; the strongest outlook belongs to Physics Teachers, Postsecondary, at 14.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Associate Professor, Instructor, University Faculty Member and Assistant Professor.
The occupation related to health/medical physics with the most projected jobs is Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,335,407.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | 415,392 | 14.3% |
| Physicists | 118,738 | 8.5% |
Health/Medical Physics graduates earn a median $51,160 one year after completing their program, $70,680 after four years and $71,212 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $51,160 |
| 4 years | $70,680 |
| 5 years | $71,212 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to health/medical physics is Physicists, with a median salary of $111,776.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Physicists | $111,776 |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,685 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Health/Medical Physics has 11 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 41,399 degrees a year; the largest are Public Health, General (24,834), Public Health Education and Promotion (3,767) and Community Health and Preventive Medicine (3,539). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Health, General | 24,834 |
| Public Health Education and Promotion | 3,767 |
| Community Health and Preventive Medicine | 3,539 |
| Public Health, Other | 2,750 |
| Health Services Administration | 2,283 |
| International Public Health/International Health | 1,529 |
| Environmental Health | 1,309 |
| Behavioral Aspects of Health | 759 |
| Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene | 300 |
| Maternal and Child Health | 225 |
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