Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 6 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies pays
Career outlook for Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies graduates
The job market for the occupations Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physicians, all other | 340,700 | +2.5% | — | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Health specialties teachers, postsecondary | 289,600 | +17.3% | $105,620 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Medical scientists, except epidemiologists | 165,300 | +8.7% | $100,590 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Natural sciences managers | 104,300 | +3.7% | $161,180 | Bachelor's degree |
| Epidemiologists | 12,300 | +16.2% | $83,980 | Master's degree |
| Dentists, all other specialists | 6,600 | +0.3% | $225,770 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies vs similar majors
How Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies stacks up against the closest fields in Health Professions & Nursing on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies Health Professions & Nursing · this major | Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences | Medicine | Dentistry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 80 A | 80 A | 80 A | 80 A |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $214,065 | $226,546 | $162,555 | $161,322 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $166,304 | $212,530 | $65,892 | $115,521 |
| ROI vs cost | +1,565% | +1,129% | +708% | +591% |
| Typical debt | $81,076 | $207,643 | $201,913 | $264,530 |
| Colleges offering it | 6 | 33 | 155 | 67 |
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN | Certificate | $223,080 | — | +2,710% | Strong return |
| 2 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | Certificate | $132,434 | — | +1,653% | Strong return |
| 3 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL | Certificate | $260,814 | $81,076 | +1,376% | Strong return |
| 4 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA | Certificate | $206,891 | — | +1,230% | Strong return |
| 5 | Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT | Certificate | $148,658 | — | +537% | Strong return |
| 6 | University of California-San Francisco San Francisco, CA | Certificate | $312,511 | — | — | Not enough data |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.