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Freelance medical writer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a freelance medical writer. Freelance medical writers usually study biology, english, or pharmacy. 57% of freelance medical writers hold a bachelor's degree, and 19% hold an doctoral degree. We analyzed 330 real freelance medical writer resumes to see exactly what freelance medical writer education sections show.
The most common colleges for freelance medical writers are the Temple University and the Temple University.
There are also many online freelance medical writer courses to help get the education required to be a freelance medical writer.
What education do you need to become a freelance medical writer?
What degree do you need to be a freelance medical writer?
- Bachelor's, 57%
- Doctorate, 19%
- Master's, 15%
- Associate, 5%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become a freelance medical writer?
Most common colleges for freelance medical writers
| Freelance medical writer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Temple University | 9.52% |
| University of Pennsylvania | 7.94% |
| University of Connecticut | 6.35% |
| New York University | 6.35% |
| Ohio State University | 6.35% |
Best majors for freelance medical writers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biology | 17.0% |
| 2 | English | 10.8% |
| 3 | Pharmacy | 9.8% |
| 4 | Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology | 7.7% |
| 5 | Journalism | 6.7% |
Best colleges for freelance medical writers
The best colleges for freelance medical writers are Northwestern University, Northeastern University, and University of Southern California.
A freelance medical writer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for freelance medical writers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become freelance medical writers.
1. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
2. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
3. University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, WI • Private
In-state tuition
$10,555
Enrollment
30,360
4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
6. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,625
Enrollment
17,407
7. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
8. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
9. University of Georgia
Athens, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,830
Enrollment
29,474
10. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Enrollment
34,564
20 best online courses for freelance medical writers
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5. Medical Terminology
Introduction to the meaning of various roots, terms and combining forms that are components of medical words...
6. Practical Regulatory Affairs 2020 - European Medical Devices
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7. EU Medical Device Regulatory Affairs explained Simply
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8. A Specialty Approach to Learning Medical Billing and Coding
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9. Medical Terminology 101
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10. ISO 13485:2016 - Design and Development of Medical Devices
Design and Development of Medical Devices in the perspective of ISO 13485:2016 and Medical Devices Industry...
11. ISO 13485 Demystified - Medical Devices' QMS 360° Insights
Deep dive into the world of ISO 13485 international standard for medical devices' QMS, basic concepts & requirements...
12. Medical Devices Quality Management System - ISO 13485:2016
Awareness and Application for the requirements of ISO 13485:2016 for Medical Device Development and QMS...
13. Internal audit on Medical Device QMS - ISO 13485:2016
Successfully conduct an internal audit based on requirements of ISO 13485:2016 for Medical Device Development and QMS...
14. Medical Device Regulation (MDR): Intro for Device Designers
An introduction to the EU's Medical Device Regulation (MDR) for those involved in developing medical devices...
15. Introduction to Medical Imaging
Your guide to the history, science, math, and economics of medical imaging systems (e.g., X-ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound)...
16. AMCI Introduction to Medical Coding (I2MC) Course
Introduction to Medical Coding (I2MC) Course...
17. Medical Coding: ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Training
Learn medical coding and prepare yourself for today's healthcare workplace...
18. Freelance Medical Writing as a Career Choice
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19. ISO 13485 - IQOQPQ - Process Validation for Medical Devices
Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ) & Performance Qualification (PQ) Medical Devices...
20. Understanding Medications and Therapeutics
Helping you build the best foundation to truly understand medications and develop clinical reasoning skills...
Top 10 most affordable universities for freelance medical writers
The most affordable schools for freelance medical writers are University of Florida, university of north carolina at chapel hill, and florida state university.
If the best universities for freelance medical writers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for freelance medical writers.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Cost of attendance
25,527
3. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
4. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Cost of attendance
25,275
5. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. University of Missouri - Kansas City
Kansas City, MO • Private
In-state tuition
$8,178
Cost of attendance
20,934
8. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
9. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
10. University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,368
Cost of attendance
21,034
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for freelance medical writers
The hardest universities for freelance medical writers to get into are Northwestern University, Northeastern University, and University of Southern California.
Some great schools for freelance medical writers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for freelance medical writers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
4. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
5. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
6. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
7. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
8. Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,488
9. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
10. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,456
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for freelance medical writers
The easiest schools for freelance medical writers to get into are Saint Joseph's College of Maine, notre dame of maryland university, and notre dame de namur university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a freelance medical writer without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for freelance medical writers.
1. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,069
2. Notre Dame of Maryland University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,069
3. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
4. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
5. University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,020
6. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
7. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
8. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
9. Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,002
10. Rochester University
Rochester Hills, MI • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,002
Average freelance medical writer salary by education level
| Freelance medical writer education level | Freelance medical writer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $101,822 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $102,552 |
Freelance medical writer education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025