Health Communication: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Health Communication is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding how information about health and illness is created, shared, and received across individuals, communities, and systems. It examines the powerful influence of communication strategies and media platforms in shaping public perceptions, influencing health behaviors, and strengthening the effectiveness of medical messaging. This program prepares students to design, evaluate, and implement evidence-based communication approaches that promote wellness, support patient engagement, and advance health equity.
- Health Message Development: Crafting clear, culturally sensitive, and scientifically accurate content for diverse audiences, including patients, healthcare providers, and policymakers.
- Media and Digital Communication: Exploring the role of traditional and digital media in disseminating health information and shaping public discourse around medical issues.
- Health Behavior Change: Applying communication theories to influence individual and community decisions related to prevention, treatment adherence, and lifestyle modification.
- Health Advocacy and Equity: Investigating how communication can empower marginalized populations and address disparities in access to care and health outcomes.
- Disease Prevention Campaigns: Designing and assessing large-scale communication initiatives aimed at reducing the incidence of chronic and infectious diseases.
- Interpersonal and Organizational Communication: Studying communication dynamics within healthcare settings, including provider-patient interactions and team-based care delivery.
Health Communication Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Health Communication Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Health Communication degrees, including Communications Teachers, Postsecondary, Public Relations Specialists and Health Education Specialists. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 435,730 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1122 | $77,800 | $47,100 - $160,210 | 29,260 | N/A |
| Public Relations Specialists 27-3031 | $69,780 | $40,750 - $129,480 | 280,590 | $33.55 |
| Health Education Specialists 21-1091 | $63,000 | $42,210 - $112,900 | 65,150 | $30.29 |
| Community Health Workers 21-1094 | $51,030 | $37,930 - $78,560 | 60,730 | $24.54 |
Health Communication Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $51,030 in Mississippi to $90,250 in District of Columbia—a 77% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, California, and Connecticut. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 435,730 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Health Communication by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 57 institutions offering Health Communication programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Health Communication is found at San Diego State University (SDSU) (37 graduates), Ohio State University, Main Campus (36 graduates), Columbia University in the City of New York (22 graduates), Harvard University (17 graduates), and University of Houston (UH) (15 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 362 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
37 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Other Award
|
36 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Post-Master's
|
22 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| Harvard University |
Master's
|
17 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Master's
|
14 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Master's
|
12 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
11 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Master's
|
10 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| University of Dayton (UD) |
Postbac Cert.
|
10 | Dayton, Ohio | Private | udayton.edu |
| Utah Tech University (UT) |
Other Award
|
10 | Saint George, Utah | Public | utahtech.edu |
| Chapman University |
Master's
|
9 | Orange, California | Private | chapman.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
9 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Other Award
|
9 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Master's
|
8 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Hamilton, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| Eastern Illinois University (EIU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Charleston, Illinois | Public | eiu.edu |
| Saint Cloud State University (SCSU) |
Other Award
|
7 | Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Public | stcloudstate.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
7 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| Northern Kentucky University (NKU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Highland Heights, Kentucky | Public | nku.edu |
| Rowan University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Master's
|
5 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Otterbein University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Westerville, Ohio | Private | otterbein.edu |
| George Mason University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
4 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Other Award
|
4 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| Murray State University (MSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Murray, Kentucky | Public | murraystate.edu |
| Calvin University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Private | calvin.edu |
| Bethany Lutheran College (BLC) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Mankato, Minnesota | Private | blc.edu |
| Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Cape Girardeau, Missouri | Public | semo.edu |
| University of North Dakota (UND) |
Other Award
|
3 | Grand Forks, North Dakota | Public | und.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Pacific Union College (PUC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Angwin, California | Private | puc.edu |
| Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Nampa, Idaho | Private | nnu.edu |
| DePaul University |
Master's
|
2 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Master's
|
2 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Trinity Christian College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Palos Heights, Illinois | Private | trnty.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| University of Michigan |
Other Award
|
2 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | umdearborn.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Middletown, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| University of Wisconsin |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Whitewater, Wisconsin | Public | uww.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Other Award
|
1 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Public | pfw.edu |
| Tufts University |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| University of Missouri-St Louis (UMSL) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Public | umsl.edu |
| The University of Montana (UM) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
1 | Missoula, Montana | Public | umt.edu |
| Hastings College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Hastings, Nebraska | Private | hastings.edu |
| Campbell University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Buies Creek, North Carolina | Private | campbell.edu |
| Ashland University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Ashland, Ohio | Private | ashland.edu |
| DeSales University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Center Valley, Pennsylvania | Private | desales.edu |
| Juniata College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Huntingdon, Pennsylvania | Private | juniata.edu |
| University of Memphis (UofM) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Health Communication programs
How much can I earn with a Health Communication degree?
Salaries for Health Communication graduates vary by role and location. Communications Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $77,800 annually, while Public Relations Specialists earn around $69,780. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $90,250 compared to $51,030 in Mississippi. Approximately 435,730 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Health Communication programs?
Currently 57 accredited institutions offer Health Communication degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include San Diego State University (SDSU) (37 graduates), Ohio State University, Main Campus (36 graduates), and Columbia University in the City of New York (22 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Health Communication growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 77 in 2010 to 362 in 2023-24. This represents a 370% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Health Communication degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Communications Teachers, Postsecondary, Public Relations Specialists, and Health Education Specialists. Related occupations employ approximately 435,730 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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