Pharmaceutical Sciences Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Study of drug design, development, and evaluation for treating disease.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$95K
salary
ROI Payback
5 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
2.8%
rate
Pharmaceutical Sciences Overview
Study of drug design, development, and evaluation for treating disease.
Category
STEM
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
68%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Limited
Underemployment
15%
Lifetime Premium
$700K
Female Graduates
55%
Pharmaceutical Sciences Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$20,700
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$20,700
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$679,300
Lifetime earnings premium ($700,000) minus net degree cost ($20,700)
Pharmaceutical Sciences Salary Progression
Common Pharmaceutical Sciences Careers
Pharmaceutical Scientist
Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Clinical Research Associate
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Pharmaceutical Sciences
#1
University of Michigan
#2
UNC Chapel Hill
#3
University of Minnesota
#4
Ohio State
#5
Purdue
Related Majors
Pharmaceutical Sciences Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Pharmaceutical Sciences Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for pharmaceutical sciences programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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