Public Health: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Public Health is a dynamic, interdisciplinary field dedicated to improving the health and well-being of populations through prevention, education, and policy. It addresses complex health challenges by integrating scientific research, community engagement, and evidence-based strategies to promote healthier communities and reduce health disparities.
- Epidemiology: The study of disease patterns and health outcomes within populations to identify causes, track outbreaks, and inform prevention efforts.
- Biostatistics: The application of statistical methods to analyze health data, support research, and guide decision-making in public health practice.
- Environmental Health Sciences: An exploration of how physical, chemical, and biological factors in the environment impact human health and disease risk.
- Health Policy and Management: The analysis and development of healthcare systems, regulations, and organizational strategies to improve access, equity, and quality of care.
- Global Health: A focus on health issues that transcend national boundaries, emphasizing international collaboration to address pandemics, health inequities, and sustainable development.
- Health Promotion and Behavioral Science: Strategies to encourage healthy behaviors and lifestyle choices through education, communication, and community-based interventions.
- Public Health Informatics: The use of data systems, technology, and information management to support public health surveillance, research, and program evaluation.
Public Health Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Public Health Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Public Health degrees, including Medical and Health Services Managers and Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary. 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 795,560 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers 11-9111 | $117,960 | $69,680 - $219,080 | 565,840 | $56.71 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1071 | $105,620 | $51,760 - $239,200 | 229,720 | N/A |
Public Health Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $85,650 in Oklahoma to $161,440 in District of Columbia—a 88% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Washington, and New York. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 795,560 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 Public Health by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 69 institutions offering Public Health 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 Public Health is found at George Washington University (GW) (530 graduates), University of California (UCI), Irvine (378 graduates), University of Maryland (UMCP), College Park (316 graduates), University of California (UCSD), San Diego (160 graduates), and Columbia University in the City of New York (146 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,803 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Washington University (GW) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
530 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
|
378 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
|
316 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
160 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Post-Master's
|
146 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
142 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
110 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| University of Washington (UW Bothell) |
Bachelor's
|
98 | Bothell, Washington | Public | uwb.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
82 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
|
81 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
|
71 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
60 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Master's
|
59 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Tufts University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
44 | Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPR‑MSC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Other)
|
32 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | rcm.upr.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Research)
|
31 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Master's
|
31 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Henderson State University (HSU) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Arkadelphia, Arkansas | Public | hsu.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Postbac Cert.
|
26 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| The University of Tennessee (UTC) |
Master's
|
23 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Public | utc.edu |
| Clemson University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
21 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| Shenandoah University (SU) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Winchester, Virginia | Private | su.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Master's
|
20 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| Nazareth University |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Rochester, New York | Private | www2.naz.edu |
| Benedictine University (BenU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
18 | Lisle, Illinois | Private | ben.edu |
| Rowan University |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
15 | Perkinston, Mississippi | Public | mgccc.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Master's
|
14 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| Lehigh University |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Private | lehigh.edu |
| Itawamba Community College (ICC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
13 | Fulton, Mississippi | Public | iccms.edu |
| Stockton University |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Galloway, New Jersey | Public | stockton.edu |
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center |
Master's
|
13 | New York, New York | Public | gc.cuny.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Master's
|
11 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
10 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
10 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Furman University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Greenville, South Carolina | Private | furman.edu |
| Montgomery College (MC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Rockville, Maryland | Public | montgomerycollege.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Master's
|
8 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| University of Evansville (UE) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Evansville, Indiana | Private | evansville.edu |
| Baker University (BU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Baldwin City, Kansas | Private | bakeru.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Master's
|
5 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
5 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Master's
|
5 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| Calvin University |
Master's
|
5 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Private | calvin.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| George Mason University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| Southern Illinois University (SIUE) |
Master's
|
3 | Edwardsville, Illinois | Public | siue.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| Kent State University |
Post-Master's
|
3 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Drexel University |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| Capella University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | capella.edu |
| University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Princess Anne, Maryland | Public | wwwcp.umes.edu |
| Hampshire College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Private | hampshire.edu |
| Harvard University |
Master's
|
2 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| Middlesex Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Bedford, Massachusetts | Public | middlesex.mass.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Northern Essex Community College (NECC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Haverhill, Massachusetts | Public | necc.mass.edu |
| Carlow University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | carlow.edu |
| Old Dominion University (ODU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | odu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
| Emory University |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| Creighton University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Omaha, Nebraska | Private | creighton.edu |
| University at Albany (UAlbany) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Albany, New York | Public | albany.edu |
| Bucks County Community College |
Associate's
|
1 | Newtown, Pennsylvania | Public | bucks.edu |
| Keystone College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | La Plume, Pennsylvania | Private | keystone.edu |
| Saint Michael's College (SMC) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Colchester, Vermont | Private | smcvt.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Public Health programs
How much can I earn with a Public Health degree?
Salaries for Public Health graduates vary by role and location. Medical and Health Services Managers earn a median of $117,960 annually, while Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $105,620. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $161,440 compared to $85,650 in Oklahoma. Approximately 795,560 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 Public Health programs?
Currently 69 accredited institutions offer Public Health degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include George Washington University (GW) (530 graduates), University of California (UCI), Irvine (378 graduates), and University of Maryland (UMCP), College Park (316 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 Public Health growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 1,871 in 2010 to a peak of 3,226 in 2020, before declining slightly to 2,803 in 2023-24. This represents a 50% 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 Public Health degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Medical and Health Services Managers, Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, . Related occupations employ approximately 795,560 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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