Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies, Other.
Data details: Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity, and summary are for this specific degree (6-digit CIP) from IPEDS. Salary, debt, and related financial outcomes are based on the degree category (4-digit CIP) from the College Scorecard API. ← Back to search
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Debt to Income Ratio
Why Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies, Other. stands out: With a debt-to-income ratio of just 14.5%, graduates of this program typically enjoy manageable student loan payments compared to their first-year earnings. This low ratio means that, on average, students who complete Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies, Other. can expect to pay off their student debt faster and with less financial stress than most other fields. Programs with a DTI below 0.5 are considered excellent by financial experts, making this degree a smart investment for your future.
For example, with a median salary of $112308 and average student debt of $16250, the financial outlook for Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies, Other. graduates is especially strong in .
Key Insights
Wondering if Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies, Other. is right for you? This degree is designed for students who want both knowledge and practical experience. Most graduates see starting salaries near $112308, and the average student debt is $16250, with a debt-to-income ratio of 0.14—a strong position for financial independence.
With an annual graduating class of 1090 students, you’ll be part of a dynamic student body. Whether you’re looking for upward mobility, a chance to innovate, or a degree that’s respected in the job market, Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies, Other. delivers. Take advantage of every resource your school offers to maximize your success!
Degree Overview
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies, Other (CIP 51.1499) is an advanced medical education category focused on postgraduate clinical training, advanced medical sciences, and specialized graduate-level study beyond the foundational medical degree. This classification exists for programs that do not fit neatly into a single traditional residency, fellowship, or named clinical specialty. It reflects how modern medicine has expanded beyond rigid tracks into highly specialized, interdisciplinary, and systems-focused forms of training.
For a degree search site, this program represents the highest level of medical specialization and lifelong professional development. These programs are designed for individuals who have already completed primary medical education and want to refine clinical expertise, pursue advanced research, lead healthcare systems, or contribute to academic medicine. This is not an entry-level pathway—it is medicine at its most advanced and demanding level.
What Is Medical Clinical Sciences / Graduate Medical Studies?
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies, Other refers to advanced education pursued after earning a primary medical degree such as an MD or DO. Programs under this CIP code often include interdisciplinary graduate medical studies, advanced clinical science degrees, nontraditional residencies or fellowships, and institution-specific training tracks that do not fall under a single Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) specialty.
These programs exist because not all advanced medical training fits into standardized specialty labels. As medicine evolves, new clinical challenges, technologies, and systems-level responsibilities require education that blends clinical care, research, leadership, and innovation.
This degree category typically focuses on:
- Advanced clinical reasoning and complex patient care
- Specialized or emerging areas of medicine
- Integration of clinical practice with scientific research
- Medical education, leadership, and healthcare systems improvement
- Preparation for academic, research, or senior clinical roles
Medical schools, teaching hospitals, and research institutions offer these programs to train physicians who will operate at the highest levels of responsibility, autonomy, and expertise.
What Will You Learn?
Students in Medical Clinical Sciences and Graduate Medical Studies programs deepen their understanding of disease, diagnosis, and treatment well beyond general medical training. Coursework and training are often customized to the physician’s focus area and may combine advanced didactic instruction, supervised clinical practice, independent research, and scholarly output.
Clinically focused programs emphasize managing highly complex cases, advanced diagnostic reasoning, multidisciplinary care coordination, and evidence-based treatment strategies. Research-oriented programs emphasize clinical trials, translational medicine, outcomes research, and applying scientific discovery directly to patient care.
Many programs also incorporate formal training in teaching, leadership, ethics, healthcare policy, and quality improvement. Graduates are expected to function with exceptional independence, judgment, and accountability, often balancing multiple professional roles simultaneously.
Core Skills You’ll Build
Graduates of Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies programs typically develop:
- Advanced clinical reasoning and decision-making for complex cases
- Specialized diagnostic and therapeutic expertise beyond general practice
- Clinical research design and evidence evaluation skills
- Interdisciplinary collaboration abilities in team-based care
- Medical teaching and mentorship skills for academic roles
- Leadership in healthcare systems and clinical environments
- Ethical judgment and professional responsibility
- Scientific communication and scholarly publication skills
These competencies support elite careers in clinical medicine, research, education, and healthcare leadership.
Topics You May Explore
Because this is an “Other” classification, topics vary widely by institution and program focus, but may include:
- Advanced Pathophysiology and Disease Mechanisms
- Complex Clinical Diagnostics and Advanced Imaging
- Subspecialty Clinical Practice or Fellowship-Level Training
- Clinical Trials and Translational Research Methods
- Medical Informatics and Data-Driven Care
- Health Systems Science and Quality Improvement
- Medical Education and Curriculum Design
- Ethics, Policy, and Professionalism in Medicine
- Capstone, Thesis, or Scholarly Project
Programs are often highly individualized to align with long-term clinical, academic, or research goals.
What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies, Other is not a terminal credential on its own, but an advanced specialization layered on top of prior medical licensure. Career outcomes depend on previous training and program focus.
Common career paths include:
- Subspecialty Physician or Clinical Consultant
- Academic Physician or Medical School Faculty
- Clinical Researcher or Physician-Scientist
- Hospital-Based Specialist or Service Director
- Residency or Fellowship Program Leader
- Healthcare Quality, Safety, or Systems Leader
- Medical Policy or Advisory Specialist
Many professionals combine clinical care with research, teaching, and administrative leadership.
Where Can You Work?
Graduates commonly work in:
- Teaching hospitals and academic medical centers
- Medical schools and universities
- Specialty clinics and referral centers
- Clinical and biomedical research institutions
- Government health agencies and advisory bodies
- Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and health technology organizations
- Global and international health organizations
These environments demand deep expertise, leadership, and continuous learning.
How Much Can You Earn?
Earnings vary widely based on specialization, sector, and leadership responsibility:
- Academic or research-focused physicians often earn $180,000–$260,000
- Subspecialty or hospital-based clinicians commonly earn $220,000–$350,000+
- Senior leaders or renowned specialists can exceed $400,000+
Compensation may include clinical income, academic appointments, research funding, and leadership stipends.
Is This Degree Hard?
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies, Other is extremely rigorous and demanding. Participants are expected to perform at the highest levels of clinical competence, scientific reasoning, and ethical responsibility. Balancing patient care, research, teaching, and leadership requires resilience, precision, and exceptional time management.
This is among the most intellectually and professionally challenging pathways in healthcare.
Who Should Consider This Degree?
This degree may be a strong fit if you:
- Are a licensed physician seeking advanced or specialized training
- Want to pursue academic medicine or clinical research
- Enjoy complex problem-solving and continuous learning
- Aspire to leadership roles in healthcare or medical education
- Want to influence the future of medicine and healthcare systems
How to Prepare for Graduate Medical Studies
To prepare for these programs:
- Complete an MD or DO with strong clinical performance
- Gain relevant residency or fellowship experience
- Develop advanced research, writing, and analytical skills
- Build relationships with academic mentors and clinical leaders
- Maintain licensure and ongoing continuing medical education
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies, Other (CIP 51.1499) represents the pinnacle of medical specialization, scholarship, and leadership. It is designed for physicians who want to move beyond standard training to master complexity, advance knowledge, and shape the future of clinical care, medical education, and healthcare systems at the highest level.
Personality Fit (RIASEC Profile)
Official assessment tool by the U.S. Department of Labor