Bright outlook
Science
Physicists
- Median pay
- $172,250
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Science
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
ProgramsHealth Professions and Related Programs
Public Health
CIP51.22
540 colleges offer Public Health. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 540
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $57,397
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $21,902
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 135
- Associate's
- 128
- Bachelor's
- 540
- Master's
- 396
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 29
- Doctoral
- 106
- First professional
- 18
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 192
What it covers
About Public Health
A program that generally prepares individuals to plan, manage, and evaluate public health care services; to function as public health professionals in public agencies, the private sector, and other settings; and to provide leadership in the field of public health. Includes instruction in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health principles, preventive medicine, health policy and regulations, health care services and related administrative functions, public health law enforcement, health economics and budgeting, public communications, and professional standards and ethics.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 51.22.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 51.22.
- Public Health, General
- Environmental Health
- Health/Medical Physics
- Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene
- Public Health Education and Promotion
- Community Health and Preventive Medicine
- Maternal and Child Health
- International Public Health/International Health
- Health Services Administration
- Behavioral Aspects of Health
- Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality
- Public Health Genetics
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 135 | $36,6984 yrs after · 6 colleges | $13,3008 colleges |
| Associate's | 128 | $43,4034 yrs after · 12 colleges | $23,20010 colleges |
| Bachelor's | 540 | $57,3974 yrs after · 204 colleges | $21,902243 colleges |
| Master's | 396 | $78,9984 yrs after · 167 colleges | $41,000154 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 29 | $77,6054 yrs after · 4 colleges | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 106 | $114,2504 yrs after · 8 colleges | $51,0343 colleges |
| First professional | 18 | $93,8994 yrs after · 4 colleges | $53,0003 colleges |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 192 | $95,6644 yrs after · 9 colleges | $66,0007 colleges |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Public Health graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Logan, UT · Public · 11 graduates
$93,161
debt not reported
- 2
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit · 116 graduates
$89,522
debt $17,279
- 3
Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 112 graduates
$87,217
debt $19,500
- 4
Montana Technological University
Butte, MT · Public · 20 graduates
$86,855
debt $25,200
- 5
Rochester Hills, MI · Public · 21 graduates
$85,266
debt $21,000
- 6
Normal, IL · Public · 16 graduates
$84,790
debt $16,533
- 7
Elon, NC · Private nonprofit · 39 graduates
$81,153
debt $20,976
- 8
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofit · 150 graduates
$79,113
debt $11,700
- 9
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI · Public · 105 graduates
$78,928
debt $15,045
- 10
Athens, GA · Public · 128 graduates
$78,085
debt $17,220
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Public Health by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Medical and Health Services Managers
- Median pay
- $123,860
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Bright outlook
Education
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $107,310
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Instructing
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Bright outlook
Science
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
- Median pay
- $103,410
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Science
Education
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $100,310
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Instructing
- Reading Comprehension
- Science
- Bright outlook
Healthcare practitioners
Genetic Counselors
- Median pay
- $100,040
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Master's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Bright outlook
Science
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
- Median pay
- $90,150
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Bright outlook
Science
Epidemiologists
- Median pay
- $87,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Master's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
More in Health Professions and Related Programs
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this area- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing1,111 colleges
- Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions930 colleges
- Health and Medical Administrative Services890 colleges
- Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants864 colleges
- Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services796 colleges
- Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General461 colleges
- Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions424 colleges
- Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions398 colleges
Questions about Public Health
How many colleges offer Public Health?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Public Health at these degree levels: certificate (135 colleges), associate's (128 colleges), bachelor's (540 colleges), master's (396 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (29 colleges), doctoral (106 colleges), first professional (18 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (192 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Public Health graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Public Health earn $57,397 a year four years after finishing, across 204 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Public Health graduates earn the most?
Utah State University reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Public Health: $93,161 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.