# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/public-health
- CIP code: 51.22 (Health Professions and Related Programs)
- Colleges offering it: 540 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 135 | $39,213 | $36,698 | $13,300 |
| Associate's | 128 | $37,907 | $43,403 | $23,200 |
| Bachelor's | 540 | $42,978 | $57,397 | $21,902 |
| Master's | 396 | $63,944 | $78,998 | $41,000 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 29 | $66,946 | $77,605 | not reported |
| Doctoral | 106 | $105,289 | $114,250 | $51,034 |
| First professional | 18 | $74,002 | $93,899 | $53,000 |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 192 | $71,499 | $95,664 | $66,000 |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Utah State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/utah-state-university-3102) | Logan, UT | $93,161 | not reported |
| [University of Southern California](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Los Angeles, CA | $89,522 | $17,279 |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Washington, DC | $87,217 | $19,500 |
| [Montana Technological University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/montana-technological-university-1758) | Butte, MT | $86,855 | $25,200 |
| [Oakland University-Michigan](https://www.collegesref.com/college/oakland-university-michigan-1984) | Rochester Hills, MI | $85,266 | $21,000 |
| [Illinois State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/illinois-state-university-1264) | Normal, IL | $84,790 | $16,533 |
| [Elon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/elon-university-906) | Elon, NC | $81,153 | $20,976 |
| [Johns Hopkins University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/johns-hopkins-university-1344) | Baltimore, MD | $79,113 | $11,700 |
| [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor-main-campus-2956) | Ann Arbor, MI | $78,928 | $15,045 |
| [University of Georgia](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-georgia-2912) | Athens, GA | $78,085 | $17,220 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Physicists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physicists): $172,250 median pay
- [Medical and Health Services Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-and-health-services-managers): $123,860 median pay
- [Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/health-specialties-teachers-postsecondary): $107,310 median pay
- [Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-scientists-except-epidemiologists): $103,410 median pay
- [Physics Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physics-teachers-postsecondary): $100,310 median pay
- [Genetic Counselors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/genetic-counselors): $100,040 median pay
- [Occupational Health and Safety Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/occupational-health-and-safety-specialists): $90,150 median pay
- [Epidemiologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/epidemiologists): $87,220 median pay
- [Climate Change Policy Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/climate-change-policy-analysts): $82,220 median pay
- [Environmental Restoration Planners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-restoration-planners): $82,220 median pay
- [Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-scientists-and-specialists-including-health): $82,220 median pay
- [Industrial Ecologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-ecologists): $82,220 median pay
- [Compliance Officers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/compliance-officers): $80,730 median pay
- [Coroners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/coroners): $80,730 median pay
- [Customs Brokers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/customs-brokers): $80,730 median pay
- [Environmental Compliance Inspectors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-compliance-inspectors): $80,730 median pay
- [Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/equal-opportunity-representatives-and-officers): $80,730 median pay
- [Government Property Inspectors and Investigators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/government-property-inspectors-and-investigators): $80,730 median pay
- [Regulatory Affairs Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/regulatory-affairs-specialists): $80,730 median pay
- [Health Education Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/health-education-specialists): $64,070 median pay
- [Occupational Health and Safety Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/occupational-health-and-safety-technicians): $61,560 median pay
- [Community Health Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/community-health-workers): $51,850 median pay

## More in Health Professions and Related Programs

- [Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/registered-nursing-nursing-administration-nursing-research-and-clinical-nursing): 1,111 colleges
- [Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/allied-health-diagnostic-intervention-and-treatment-professions): 930 colleges
- [Health and Medical Administrative Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/health-and-medical-administrative-services): 890 colleges
- [Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/practical-nursing-vocational-nursing-and-nursing-assistants): 864 colleges
- [Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/allied-health-and-medical-assisting-services): 796 colleges
- [Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/health-services-allied-health-health-sciences-general): 461 colleges
- [Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/mental-and-social-health-services-and-allied-professions): 424 colleges
- [Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/clinical-medical-laboratory-science-research-and-allied-professions): 398 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/