Health Behavior: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Health Behavior is a multidisciplinary field dedicated to understanding the complex factors that influence individual and collective health choices. By examining the interplay of biological, psychological, and societal forces, this program equips learners to design, evaluate, and implement evidence-based strategies that promote healthier communities and populations.
- Behavioral Sciences: Explores how cognitive processes, emotions, and learned patterns shape health-related decisions, including risk-taking, adherence to medical advice, and lifestyle choices.
- Public Health Practice and Policy: Focuses on the development, implementation, and assessment of health initiatives and regulatory frameworks designed to address population-level health challenges.
- Human Services: Emphasizes community engagement, social support systems, and service delivery models that empower individuals and underserved groups to achieve better health outcomes.
- Research Methods: Provides rigorous training in quantitative and qualitative techniques for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to inform health interventions and policy decisions.
Health Behavior Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Health Behavior Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Health Behavior degrees, including Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, 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 355,600 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1071 | $105,620 | $51,760 - $239,200 | 229,720 | N/A |
| 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 Behavior Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $55,383 in Hawaii to $114,667 in District of Columbia—a 107% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Arkansas, and Washington. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 355,600 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 Behavior by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 44 institutions offering Health Behavior 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 Behavior is found at The University of Texas, Austin (111 graduates), University of Southern California (USC) (82 graduates), University of Houston (UHD), Downtown (48 graduates), University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth (34 graduates), and Temple University (31 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 623 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
|
111 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
82 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University of Houston (UHD) |
Bachelor's
|
48 | Houston, Texas | Public | uhd.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
|
34 | North Dartmouth, Massachusetts | Public | umassd.edu |
| Temple University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
31 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
24 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | otc.edu |
| Southern Illinois University |
Master's
|
21 | Carbondale, Illinois | Public | siu.edu |
| Drexel University |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
21 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
16 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Master's
|
16 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| University of Maine (UMaine) |
Postbac Cert.
|
13 | Orono, Maine | Public | umaine.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| Three Rivers College |
Associate's
|
12 | Poplar Bluff, Missouri | Public | trcc.edu |
| SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Utica, New York | Public | sunypoly.edu |
| Georgetown University (GU) |
Master's
|
11 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | georgetown.edu |
| Seton Hill University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Greensburg, Pennsylvania | Private | setonhill.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
9 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Harvard University |
Postbac Cert.
|
9 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMBC) |
Other Award
|
8 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umbc.edu |
| University at Albany (UAlbany) |
Post-Master's
|
8 | Albany, New York | Public | albany.edu |
| Moberly Area Community College (MACC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Moberly, Missouri | Public | macc.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU) |
Master's
|
5 | Hammond, Louisiana | Public | southeastern.edu |
| George Fox University |
Other Award
|
5 | Newberg, Oregon | Private | georgefox.edu |
| Heritage University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
5 | Toppenish, Washington | Private | heritage.edu |
| Western Colorado University |
Master's
|
4 | Gunnison, Colorado | Public | western.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| University of Jamestown (UJ) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Jamestown, North Dakota | Private | uj.edu |
| Northwest Indian College (NWIC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | nwic.edu |
| Alaska Christian College (ACC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Soldotna, Alaska | Private | alaskacc.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Saint Louis Community College (STLCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Bridgeton, Missouri | Public | stlcc.edu |
| Oregon Institute of Technology (OTI) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Klamath Falls, Oregon | Public | oit.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | uthsc.edu |
| Taylor University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Upland, Indiana | Private | taylor.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Residency
|
1 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| East Tennessee State University (ETSU) |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Johnson City, Tennessee | Public | etsu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Health Behavior programs
How much can I earn with a Health Behavior degree?
Salaries for Health Behavior graduates vary by role and location. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $105,620 annually, while Health Education Specialists earn around $63,000. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $114,667 compared to $55,383 in Hawaii. Approximately 355,600 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 Behavior programs?
Currently 44 accredited institutions offer Health Behavior degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include The University of Texas, Austin (111 graduates), University of Southern California (USC) (82 graduates), and University of Houston (UHD), Downtown (48 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 Behavior growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 85 in 2010 to a peak of 803 in 2020, before declining slightly to 623 in 2023-24. This represents a 633% 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 Behavior degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, Health Education Specialists, and Community Health Workers. Related occupations employ approximately 355,600 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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