Community Health Counseling: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Community Health Counseling equips professionals to bridge gaps between healthcare systems and underserved populations by fostering equitable access to essential services. This program cultivates expertise in navigating complex social and medical landscapes to empower communities through advocacy, education, and coordinated support.
- Public and Community Health: Focuses on improving population-wide well-being through preventive strategies, health surveillance, and community-based interventions.
- Human and Social Services: Explores the delivery, coordination, and ethical application of support systems designed to address socioeconomic and psychological challenges.
- Health Services Administration: Provides foundational knowledge in managing healthcare operations, resource allocation, and policy implementation within community settings.
- Group Counseling: Develops skills in facilitating therapeutic group dynamics to promote emotional resilience and collective problem-solving.
- Health Education: Emphasizes evidence-based methods for designing and delivering educational campaigns that drive healthy behaviors and informed decision-making.
- Group Advocacy: Trains professionals to mobilize communities around systemic issues, promoting social change through organized, strategic action.
- Cross-Cultural and Multilingual Communication: Builds competencies in culturally sensitive interaction and effective communication across diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
- Applicable Laws and Policies: Covers regulatory frameworks governing healthcare access, patient rights, privacy standards, and social service eligibility.
Community Health Counseling Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Community Health Counseling Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Community Health Counseling degrees, including Health Education Specialists and Community Health Workers. 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 125,880 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Community Health Counseling Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $42,945 in Mississippi to $91,085 in District of Columbia—a 112% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Maryland, and Georgia. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 125,880 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 Community Health Counseling by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Community Health Counseling 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 Community Health Counseling is found at James Madison University (JMU) (451 graduates), University of Arizona (107 graduates), Purdue University Global (101 graduates), University of Pennsylvania (Penn) (94 graduates), and Regent University (80 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,294 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Madison University (JMU) |
Bachelor's
|
451 | Harrisonburg, Virginia | Public | jmu.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
|
107 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Purdue University Global |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
101 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdueglobal.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
94 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Regent University |
Master's
|
80 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | regent.edu |
| City Colleges of Chicago (MXC) |
Other Award
|
62 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | ccc.edu |
| University of the Cumberlands |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
58 | Williamsburg, Kentucky | Private | ucumberlands.edu |
| University of Central Arkansas (UCA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
55 | Conway, Arkansas | Public | uca.edu |
| Worcester State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
46 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Public | worcester.edu |
| Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) |
Bachelor's
|
46 | Manchester, New Hampshire | Private | snhu.edu |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
41 | Perkinston, Mississippi | Public | mgccc.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Master's
|
41 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
|
41 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| City Colleges of Chicago |
Other Award
|
38 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | ccc.edu |
| Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) |
Other Award
|
36 | Santa Fe, New Mexico | Public | sfcc.edu |
| CUNY Kingsborough Community College (KCC) |
Associate's
|
36 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | kbcc.cuny.edu |
| CUNY Hostos Community College |
Associate's
|
34 | Bronx, New York | Public | hostos.cuny.edu |
| Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Danbury, Connecticut | Public | wcsu.edu |
| Northern Illinois University (NIU) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Dekalb, Illinois | Public | niu.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| Normandale Community College |
Other Award
|
32 | Bloomington, Minnesota | Public | normandale.edu |
| Duquesne University |
Master's
|
31 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | duq.edu |
| Thomas University (TU) |
Master's
|
28 | Thomasville, Georgia | Private | thomasu.edu |
| Lake Area Technical College (LATC) |
Other Award
|
25 | Watertown, South Dakota | Public | lakeareatech.edu |
| Houston Christian University (HCU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
24 | Houston, Texas | Private | hc.edu |
| Heartland Community College (HCC ) |
Residency
|
24 | Normal, Illinois | Public | heartland.edu |
| Kettering College |
Residency
|
23 | Kettering, Ohio | Private | kc.edu |
| Indiana State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 | Terre Haute, Indiana | Public | indstate.edu |
| Davenport University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
22 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Private | davenport.edu |
| Seattle Central College |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Seattle, Washington | Public | seattlecentral.edu |
| Northwest Vista College (NVC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
22 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | alamo.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| Hazard Community and Technical College (HCTC) |
Residency
|
21 | Hazard, Kentucky | Public | hazard.kctcs.edu |
| Texas Woman's University (TWU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
21 | Denton, Texas | Public | twu.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
20 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
20 | Houston, Texas | Public | uth.edu |
| Northwest Technical College (NTC) |
Other Award
|
19 | Bemidji, Minnesota | Public | ntcmn.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
19 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) |
Associate's
|
19 | Walla Walla, Washington | Public | wwcc.edu |
| New Mexico State University (NMSU) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | nmsu.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Spartanburg, South Carolina | Public | uscupstate.edu |
| Gonzaga University |
Master's
|
18 | Spokane, Washington | Private | gonzaga.edu |
| Rogers State University (RSU) |
Master's
|
16 | Claremore, Oklahoma | Public | rsu.edu |
| Hennepin Technical College (HTC) |
Other Award
|
15 | Brooklyn Park, Minnesota | Public | hennepintech.edu |
| Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) |
Associate's
|
14 | Reno, Nevada | Public | tmcc.edu |
| Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) |
Other Award
|
13 | Melbourne, Florida | Public | easternflorida.edu |
| Sullivan University |
Associate's
|
13 | Louisville, Kentucky | Private | sullivan.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Other Award
|
13 | Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico | Public | taos.unm.edu |
| Bethel University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | bethel.edu |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Wayne, New Jersey | Public | wpunj.edu |
| Walsh University |
Master's
|
11 | North Canton, Ohio | Private | walsh.edu |
| Minnesota West Community and Technical College |
Other Award
|
10 | Granite Falls, Minnesota | Public | mnwest.edu |
| Trinidad State College (TSC) |
Other Award
|
9 | Trinidad, Colorado | Public | trinidadstate.edu |
| St Petersburg College (SPC) |
Other Award
|
9 | St. Petersburg, Florida | Public | spcollege.edu |
| Colorado Mountain College (CMC) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Glenwood Springs, Colorado | Public | coloradomtn.edu |
| Mt Hood Community College (MHCC) |
Other Award
|
8 | Gresham, Oregon | Public | mhcc.edu |
| University of Lynchburg |
Master's
|
8 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | lynchburg.edu |
| University of West Florida (UWF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
7 | Pensacola, Florida | Public | uwf.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Other Award
|
7 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| North Shore Community College (NSCC) |
Other Award
|
7 | Danvers, Massachusetts | Public | northshore.edu |
| State Fair Community College (SFCC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Sedalia, Missouri | Public | sfccmo.edu |
| New Mexico State University |
Other Award
|
7 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | dacc.nmsu.edu |
| The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MD Anderson) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Houston, Texas | Public | mdanderson.org |
| BridgeValley Community & Technical College (BVCTC) |
Associate's
|
7 | South Charleston, West Virginia | Public | bridgevalley.edu |
| Clark Atlanta University (CAU) |
Master's
|
6 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | cau.edu |
| William Rainey Harper College |
Other Award
|
6 | Palatine, Illinois | Public | harpercollege.edu |
| University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) |
Master's
|
6 | Detroit, Michigan | Private | udmercy.edu |
| Manchester Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Manchester, New Hampshire | Public | mccnh.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Northern Essex Community College (NECC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Haverhill, Massachusetts | Public | necc.mass.edu |
| Southeast Community College Area (SCC) |
Other Award
|
5 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | southeast.edu |
| Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) |
Master's
|
5 | New York, New York | Private | mcny.edu |
| Cleveland State University (CSU) |
Master's
|
5 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | csuohio.edu |
| Morris College |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Sumter, South Carolina | Private | morris.edu |
| College of Micronesia-FSM (COM-FSM) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
5 | Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia | Public | comfsm.fm |
| University of Alaska (UAF) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
4 | Fairbanks, Alaska | Public | uaf.edu |
| University of Alaska (UAS) |
Other Award
|
4 | Juneau, Alaska | Public | uas.alaska.edu |
| Mott Community College |
Associate's
|
4 | Flint, Michigan | Public | mcc.edu |
| Monroe Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
4 | Rochester, New York | Public | monroecc.edu |
| Mercy College of Ohio |
Other Award
|
4 | Toledo, Ohio | Private | mercycollege.edu |
| Community College of Vermont (CCV) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
4 | Montpelier, Vermont | Public | ccv.edu |
| Community College of Denver (CCD) |
Associate's
|
3 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ccd.edu |
| Georgia Highlands College (GHC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Rome, Georgia | Public | highlands.edu |
| Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
3 | Troy, New York | Public | hvcc.edu |
| Montreat College |
Master's
|
3 | Montreat, North Carolina | Private | montreat.edu |
| Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) |
Other Award
|
3 | Warwick, Rhode Island | Public | ccri.edu |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University (TWU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Athens, Tennessee | Private | tnwesleyan.edu |
| Bluefield State University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Bluefield, West Virginia | Public | bluefieldstate.edu |
| Idaho State University (ISU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Pocatello, Idaho | Public | isu.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| Lasell University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Newton, Massachusetts | Private | lasell.edu |
| Missouri State University (MSU‑WP) |
Associate's
|
2 | West Plains, Missouri | Public | wp.missouristate.edu |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | cvtc.edu |
| College of the Desert (COD) |
Other Award
|
1 | Palm Desert, California | Public | collegeofthedesert.edu |
| University of Holy Cross (UHC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | uhcno.edu |
| Northern Michigan University (NMU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Marquette, Michigan | Public | nmu.edu |
| Dutchess Community College (DCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Public | sunydutchess.edu |
| Onondaga Community College (OCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Syracuse, New York | Public | sunyocc.edu |
| SUNY Westchester Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Valhalla, New York | Public | sunywcc.edu |
| Methodist University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Private | methodist.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Community Health Counseling programs
How much can I earn with a Community Health Counseling degree?
Salaries for Community Health Counseling graduates vary by role and location. Health Education Specialists earn a median of $63,000 annually, while Community Health Workers earn around $51,030. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $91,085 compared to $42,945 in Mississippi. Approximately 125,880 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 Community Health Counseling programs?
Currently 104 accredited institutions offer Community Health Counseling degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include James Madison University (JMU) (451 graduates), University of Arizona (107 graduates), and Purdue University Global (101 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 Community Health Counseling growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 1,376 in 2010 to a peak of 2,389 in 2020, before declining slightly to 2,298 in 2023-24. This represents a 67% 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 Community Health Counseling degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Health Education Specialists, Community Health Workers, . Related occupations employ approximately 125,880 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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