Pharmacology and Toxicology: 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 5 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Pharmacology and Toxicology pays
Career outlook for Pharmacology and Toxicology graduates
The job market for the occupations Pharmacology and Toxicology 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Occupational health and safety specialists | 131,900 | +12.5% | $83,910 | Bachelor's degree |
| Natural sciences managers | 104,300 | +3.7% | $161,180 | Bachelor's degree |
| Environmental scientists and specialists, including health | 90,300 | +4.4% | $80,060 | Bachelor's degree |
| Biological science teachers, postsecondary | 66,000 | +7.3% | $83,460 | 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.
Pharmacology and Toxicology vs similar majors
How Pharmacology and Toxicology stacks up against the closest fields in Biological & Biomedical Sciences on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Pharmacology and Toxicology Biological & Biomedical Sciences · this major | Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | Biotechnology | Genetics | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 91 A | 86 A | 87 A | 82 A |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $92,541 | $122,658 | $89,459 | $77,429 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $51,581 | $82,737 | $63,581 | $42,130 |
| ROI vs cost | +493% | +824% | +437% | +305% |
| Typical debt | $22,369 | $33,122 | $29,545 | $22,418 |
| Colleges offering it | 5 | 11 | 23 | 10 |
Pharmacology and Toxicology 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 Pharmacology and Toxicology
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 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA | Associate's | $97,773 | $14,500 | +1,307% | Strong return |
| 2 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY | Associate's | $99,451 | $22,003 | +989% | Strong return |
| 3 | University of California-Davis Davis, CA | Associate's | $73,345 | $12,072 | +737% | Strong return |
| 4 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA | Associate's | $91,542 | — | +684% | Strong return |
| 5 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI | Certificate | $100,592 | $40,900 | +494% | Strong return |
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.