by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 784 U.S. colleges awarded 41,733 degrees and certificates in Public Health. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 48% of graduates. College Factual ranks 442 schools in its 2027 Best Public Health Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $51,160 one year after completing, rising to $70,680 after four years.
Although the medical field has made large advancements over the last century, there are still many people who lack necessary medical care. If you would like to work in a field that allows you to help others reach a state of well-being, consider majoring in Public Health.
With a degree in Public Health, students learn how government programs, education and awareness, communication, and funding play a role in the lack of medical services. You will take classes in biology, human physiology, nutrition, infectious diseases, health policy, and government policy to learn how to improve access to health services, decrease the spread of diseases, reduce substance abuse, and spread information to the general public about health concerns.
Some students choose to major in general Public Health, while others decide to narrow their focus to specific areas such as Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Maternal and Child Health, International Public Health, and Behavioral Aspects of Health, among others.
Studying Public Health involves the study of Public Health.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, public health draws strong interest, with 41,733 degrees awarded annually. 784 colleges award public health degrees, an average of 53 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,644.
By level, the 41,733 awards include 174 certificates, 1,148 associate degrees, 18,948 bachelor’s degrees, 20,224 master’s degrees and 1,119 doctorates.
Women earned 79% of public health degrees and certificates in the latest year (32,937 of 41,733). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (15,484) and Hispanic or Latino (6,846), and international students earned 2,201.
College Factual ranks 442 schools in its 2027 Best Public Health Schools ranking, including 21 for associate degrees, 283 for bachelor’s degrees, 259 for master’s degrees and 42 for doctorates. It also ranks public health schools within 51 states. In all, 784 colleges offer public health programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Public Health Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common public health credential is the master’s degree: 20,224 of the 41,733 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to public health call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Biology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Students who major in Public Health should have a passion for helping others. You will devote your time to trying to change government policy, improve available medical resources, and encourage the overall health of communities both within the U.S. and abroad. Strong communication and interpersonal skills will help as you work with community leaders or the general public to spread information and aid in improving healthcare.
Public Health graduates work in fulltime positions improving the health and safety of people around the world. You may work in an office or travel spreading information or raising funds. Since this is an interdisciplinary field, there are many work environments available to you.
A degree in Public Health is usually a graduate degree; however some schools do offer this as a bachelor's program. A graduate degree will provide students with more training in the field and may increase job prospects.
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How long a public health degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 174 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,148 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 18,948 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 20,224 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,119 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to public health, at 36.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 36.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 22.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 14.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 11.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
| Some college courses | 1.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
| First professional degree | 0.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
22 occupations are related to Public Health, with an average median salary of $80,655; the strongest outlook belongs to Regulatory Affairs Specialists, at 14.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Instructor, Clinical Instructor, Nutrition Educator and Professor.
A degree in Public Health leads to numerous career opportunities both in the U.S. and abroad. Some graduates have gone into health communications, nutrition, health education, biostatistics, and epidemiology at organizations such as the Peace Corps, the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. You will be equipped with the skills to work with any business or organization spreading information and improving the physical, mental, and social well-being of people around the world.
The occupation related to public health with the most projected jobs is Genetic Counselors, at 3,289,795.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Genetic Counselors | 3,289,795 | 13.4% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers | 735,120 | 1.8% |
| Environmental Compliance Inspectors | 674,467 | 10.0% |
| Coroners | 499,816 | -4.9% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 419,330 | 8.8% |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | 415,392 | 14.3% |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialists | 373,276 | 14.4% |
Public Health graduates earn a median $51,160 one year after completing their program, $70,680 after four years and $71,212 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $51,160 |
| 4 years | $70,680 |
| 5 years | $71,212 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to public health is Medical and Health Services Managers, with a median salary of $129,557.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Environmental Compliance Inspectors | $119,630 |
| Physicists | $111,776 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Coroners | $110,095 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $105,544 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $90,139 |
| Epidemiologists | $87,636 |
Public Health includes 12 concentrations that together award 41,733 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Public Health, General (24,834), Public Health Education and Promotion (3,767) and Community Health and Preventive Medicine (3,539). It has 30 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 995,727 degrees a year; the largest are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (318,053), Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (110,132) and Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (98,474). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Health, General | 24,834 |
| Public Health Education and Promotion | 3,767 |
| Community Health and Preventive Medicine | 3,539 |
| Public Health, Other | 2,750 |
| Health Services Administration | 2,283 |
| International Public Health/International Health | 1,529 |
| Environmental Health | 1,309 |
| Behavioral Aspects of Health | 759 |
| Health/Medical Physics | 334 |
| Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene | 300 |
| Maternal and Child Health | 225 |
| Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality | 104 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
