Health Law: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Health Law is a specialized field that examines the complex legal frameworks governing healthcare delivery, professional practice, and patient rights. It equips students with the analytical and regulatory expertise needed to navigate the evolving landscape of medical ethics, public policy, and health system governance.
- Healthcare Regulation: Explores the rules and oversight mechanisms that ensure compliance and quality across medical facilities, providers, and health systems.
- Medical Ethics and Patient Rights: Investigates legal standards surrounding informed consent, confidentiality, end-of-life decisions, and the protection of vulnerable populations in clinical settings.
- Healthcare Policy Development: Analyzes how legislative and administrative actions shape access, equity, and efficiency within national and regional health systems.
- Insurance Law and Reimbursement: Covers the legal foundations of health insurance, billing practices, fraud prevention, and the interplay between private and public payers.
- Healthcare Professional Liability: Addresses legal responsibilities and accountability for medical practitioners, including malpractice, licensure, and disciplinary proceedings.
- Public Health Law: Focuses on legal tools used to prevent disease, manage outbreaks, and promote population health through enforceable public health interventions.
Health Law Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Health Law Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Health Law degrees, including Lawyers and Law 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 770,550 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawyers 23-1011 | $151,160 | $72,780 - $239,200 | 747,750 | $72.67 |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1112 | $126,650 | $58,330 - $239,200 | 22,800 | N/A |
Health Law Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $79,245 in Mississippi to $172,710 in Delaware—a 118% difference. The highest-paying states include Delaware, Massachusetts, and Colorado. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 770,550 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 Law by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 20 institutions offering Health Law 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 Law is found at Loyola University Chicago (LUC) (184 graduates), University of Oklahoma (OU), Norman Campus (88 graduates), Seton Hall University (SHU) (67 graduates), Texas A & M University, College Station (61 graduates), and Georgetown University (GU) (32 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 539 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
184 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Master's
|
88 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| Seton Hall University (SHU) |
Master's
|
67 | South Orange, New Jersey | Private | shu.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Postbac Cert.
|
61 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Georgetown University (GU) |
Master's
|
32 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | georgetown.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Postbac Cert.
|
15 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Hofstra University |
Master's
|
13 | Hempstead, New York | Private | hofstra.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Postbac Cert.
|
11 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Master's
|
10 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (PUCPR) |
Master's
|
10 | Ponce, Puerto Rico | Private | pucpr.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
9 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Postbac Cert.
|
9 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Mitchell Hamline School of Law |
Postbac Cert.
|
7 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | mitchellhamline.edu |
| Widener University |
Master's
|
6 | Chester, Pennsylvania | Private | widener.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Master's
|
6 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Samford University |
Master's
|
5 | Birmingham, Alabama | Private | samford.edu |
| Loyola University New Orleans (LOYNO) |
Master's
|
3 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | loyno.edu |
| Temple University |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Master's
|
1 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Health Law programs
How much can I earn with a Health Law degree?
Salaries for Health Law graduates vary by role and location. Lawyers earn a median of $151,160 annually, while Law Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $126,650. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Delaware average $172,710 compared to $79,245 in Mississippi. Approximately 770,550 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 Law programs?
Currently 20 accredited institutions offer Health Law degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Loyola University Chicago (LUC) (184 graduates), University of Oklahoma (OU), Norman Campus (88 graduates), and Seton Hall University (SHU) (67 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 Law growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 159 in 2010 to 539 in 2023-24. This represents a 239% 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 Law degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Lawyers, Law Teachers, Postsecondary, . Related occupations employ approximately 770,550 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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