Public Health Nursing: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Public Health Nursing equips registered nurses with the advanced knowledge and clinical expertise needed to improve population health outcomes through preventive care, community-based interventions, and coordinated public health initiatives. This specialized field emphasizes proactive health promotion, disease prevention, and equitable access to care within diverse communities, often in collaboration with local health departments and public health organizations.
- Community and Rural Health: Focuses on addressing unique health challenges in underserved and geographically isolated populations, including access to care, infrastructure limitations, and cultural competency in service delivery.
- Family Therapy and Intervention: Involves assessing family dynamics and implementing evidence-based strategies to support mental health, strengthen family resilience, and improve health behaviors across generations.
- Disease Prevention: Centers on strategies to reduce the incidence and spread of infectious and chronic diseases through immunizations, screening programs, and targeted outreach efforts.
- Health Education: Develops skills in designing and delivering culturally appropriate health information campaigns to empower individuals and communities to make informed decisions about their well-being.
- Community Health Assessment: Teaches systematic methods for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting health data to identify priority needs, evaluate program effectiveness, and guide policy and intervention planning.
Public Health Nursing Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Public Health Nursing Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Public Health Nursing degrees, including Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses and Nursing Instructors and 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 3,663,650 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioners 29-1171 | $129,210 | $97,960 - $169,950 | 307,390 | $62.12 |
| Registered Nurses 29-1141 | $93,600 | $66,030 - $135,320 | 3,282,010 | $45.00 |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1072 | $79,940 | $47,950 - $130,040 | 74,250 | N/A |
Public Health Nursing Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $85,040 in Arkansas to $135,317 in California—a 59% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Oregon, and Hawaii. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 3,663,650 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 Nursing by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 20 institutions offering Public Health Nursing 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 Nursing is found at Aspen University (1,189 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (96 graduates), California State University (CSULB), Long Beach (69 graduates), University of Michigan (U‑M), Ann Arbor (55 graduates), and University of California (UCI), Irvine (21 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,505 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspen University |
Bachelor's
|
1,189 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | aspen.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Master's
|
96 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Postbac Cert.
|
69 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
55 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Master's
|
21 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| Jacksonville State University (JSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
15 | Jacksonville, Alabama | Public | jsu.edu |
| Bluefield University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Bluefield, Virginia | Private | bluefield.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Master's
|
8 | North Dartmouth, Massachusetts | Public | umassd.edu |
| Cedarville University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
6 | Cedarville, Ohio | Private | cedarville.edu |
| Rhode Island College (RIC) |
Master's
|
6 | Providence, Rhode Island | Public | ric.edu |
| American Samoa Community College (ASCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
6 | Pago Pago, American Samoa | Public | amsamoa.edu |
| Coppin State University |
Master's
|
5 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | coppin.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Master's
|
5 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health (NMC) |
Doctorate (Other)
|
3 | Omaha, Nebraska | Private | methodistcollege.edu |
| Methodist College |
Other Award
|
2 | Peoria, Illinois | Private | methodistcol.edu |
| Allen College |
Master's
|
2 | Waterloo, Iowa | Private | allencollege.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| Binghamton University |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Vestal, New York | Public | binghamton.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Public Health Nursing programs
How much can I earn with a Public Health Nursing degree?
Salaries for Public Health Nursing graduates vary by role and location. Nurse Practitioners earn a median of $129,210 annually, while Registered Nurses earn around $93,600. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $135,317 compared to $85,040 in Arkansas. Approximately 3,663,650 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 Nursing programs?
Currently 20 accredited institutions offer Public Health Nursing degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Aspen University (1,189 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (96 graduates), and California State University (CSULB), Long Beach (69 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 Nursing growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 169 in 2010 to a peak of 1,588 in 2020, before declining slightly to 1,505 in 2023-24. This represents a 791% 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 Nursing degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, and Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 3,663,650 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.
Related Health Programs
Explore similar degree programs within the Health field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.
Physical Therapy Assistant
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of a physical therapist, to implement physical therapy treatment care plans, train patients, conduct treatment...
Anesthesiologist Assistant
A program that prepares individuals to assist anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists in developing and implementing patient anesthesia care plans, including preoperative, surgical theater,...
Emergency Care Attendant
A program that prepares individuals to assist licensed EMTs, under the supervision of a physician, to prepare and transport ill or injured patients,...
Pathology Assistant
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of pathologists, to assist in the performance of autopsies, obtaining and preparing surgical specimens, preparing...
Respiratory Therapy Technician
A program that prepares individuals to administer general respiratory care procedures under the supervision of respiratory therapists in a variety of clinical settings....
Radiologist Assistant
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of a physician, to perform patient assessment, patient management, selected imaging procedures and to make...