Medical Illustration and Informatics, 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
All data shown below (except Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity) is based on the category, not just this specific degree.
Please use your own discretion when interpreting these results. For certain degrees, a limited number of institutions report to the government's College Scorecard API, which may cause the data to be skewed or less representative of national trends. Consider these figures as informative but not definitive, and consult additional sources or advisors for important decisions.
Debt to Income Ratio
Why Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other. stands out: With a debt-to-income ratio of just 37.8%, 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 Illustration and Informatics, 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 $70134 and average student debt of $26517, the financial outlook for Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other. graduates is especially strong in .
Key Insights
Wondering if Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other. is right for you? This degree is designed for students who want both knowledge and practical experience. Most graduates see starting salaries near $70134, and the average student debt is $26517, with a debt-to-income ratio of 0.38—a strong position for financial independence.
With an annual graduating class of 2689 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 Illustration and Informatics, Other. delivers. Take advantage of every resource your school offers to maximize your success!
Degree Overview
Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other (CIP 51.2799) is a highly interdisciplinary and future-oriented health sciences category that captures specialized programs blending medicine, visual communication, data, and technology in ways that do not fit traditional classifications. This CIP code exists to represent emerging, hybrid, and customized programs that combine medical knowledge with illustration, visualization, informatics, and digital systems.
At its core, this field is about making complex medical information understandable, usable, and actionable. Whether through detailed anatomical illustrations, interactive 3D models, clinical data systems, or health information platforms, professionals in this space translate medical science into forms that doctors, patients, researchers, and healthcare systems can actually use.
This degree category is ideal for students who are equally drawn to science and technology, or science and visual communication—people who want to work at the intersection of medicine, data, design, and digital systems rather than in direct patient care.
What Is a Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other Degree?
A degree under CIP 51.2799 represents non-traditional or interdisciplinary programs that blend elements of:
- Medical illustration and visualization
- Health informatics and information systems
- Biomedical communication
- Data visualization and analytics
- Digital health technologies
- User-centered design for healthcare
- Clinical documentation and information management
Schools use this classification when a program crosses boundaries between art, computer science, and medical science, or when it focuses on niche applications not covered by standard medical illustration or health informatics CIP codes.
Rather than training students to diagnose or treat patients, these programs prepare graduates to support healthcare decision-making, education, research, and system efficiency by improving how medical information is created, structured, visualized, and delivered.
Who Should Consider This Degree?
Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other is a strong fit for students who:
- Enjoy both science and technology or science and visual design
- Like explaining complex ideas clearly and accurately
- Are interested in healthcare but not bedside clinical roles
- Enjoy working with data, systems, or digital tools
- Want careers in health-tech, research, education, or digital medicine
This degree often attracts “translators” and “builders”—people who like turning complex medical knowledge into tools, visuals, or systems that others rely on.
What Will You Learn?
Students in 51.2799 programs learn how medical information is created, structured, and communicated across healthcare environments. The focus is on accuracy, usability, and impact.
Depending on the program’s emphasis, you may work more with visual media, data systems, or a blend of both. In all cases, you learn how errors, poor design, or unclear information can directly affect patient outcomes—making precision critical.
Core Skills You’ll Build
Most programs help students develop skills such as:
- Understanding human anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology
- Translating medical concepts into clear visuals or digital formats
- Designing user-friendly interfaces for health information
- Managing and organizing clinical or biomedical data
- Applying principles of accuracy, ethics, and privacy in health information
- Collaborating with clinicians, researchers, and technical teams
- Using specialized software for illustration, modeling, or data systems
- Evaluating how users interact with medical information
These skills are especially valuable in healthcare environments where clarity, speed, and accuracy can directly affect decisions.
Topics You May Explore
Coursework varies widely but may include subjects such as:
- Medical and scientific illustration
- Anatomy and physiology for visual or technical professionals
- Health informatics and clinical information systems
- Biomedical data visualization
- Digital imaging and 3D modeling
- Electronic health records (EHRs) and data standards
- Health information management and interoperability
- Human-centered design in healthcare
- Ethics, privacy, and security of medical data
- Research methods and evidence-based communication
Many programs emphasize project-based learning, where students build portfolios, prototypes, or systems that demonstrate real-world application.
What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?
A Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other degree opens doors to a wide range of roles across healthcare, technology, education, and research.
Common career paths include:
- Medical Illustrator or Visual Content Specialist
- Biomedical Visualization Specialist
- Health Informatics Analyst
- Clinical Data or Systems Analyst
- Health IT or Digital Health Specialist
- Medical Education or Training Content Developer
- UX/UI Designer for Health Applications
- Research Data Visualization Specialist
- Medical Communications or Scientific Media Producer
Some roles may require additional technical skills, certifications, or graduate education, but this degree provides a strong interdisciplinary foundation.
Where Can You Work?
Graduates commonly work in:
- Hospitals and health systems
- Health-tech and digital health companies
- Medical device and pharmaceutical companies
- Universities and research institutions
- Medical schools and training organizations
- Government health agencies
- Publishing, media, and scientific communication firms
- Electronic health record and healthcare software companies
As healthcare becomes more digital, professionals who can bridge medicine and technology are increasingly in demand.
Is This Degree Hard?
The challenge of this degree lies in its cross-disciplinary nature. Students must be comfortable learning medical science while also mastering technical, design, or data-driven tools. Accuracy matters—mistakes in medical visuals or data systems can have serious consequences.
Success requires attention to detail, strong communication skills, and a willingness to learn continuously as technology and healthcare standards evolve.
Who Should Choose CIP 51.2799 Specifically?
This CIP code may be a strong match if you:
- Want to work in healthcare without direct patient care
- Enjoy combining science with technology or visual design
- Like building tools, systems, or visuals people rely on
- Are interested in health-tech, research, or medical education
- Want a career that sits at the intersection of multiple fields
How to Prepare in High School
Students interested in this field should:
- Take biology and anatomy-related courses
- Develop computer and digital literacy skills
- Explore art, design, or data visualization if interested
- Build strong writing and communication abilities
- Experiment with coding, 3D modeling, or digital media tools
- Stay curious about how technology is used in healthcare
Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other represents a powerful and modern pathway for students who want to shape how medical knowledge is visualized, organized, and delivered—turning complex science into tools and information that improve healthcare at scale.
Personality Fit (RIASEC Profile)
Official assessment tool by the U.S. Department of Labor