Best colleges for Public Health in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
National University, University of California-Berkeley and Santa Clara University are the top bachelor's Public Health programs in California by graduate earnings. National University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $52,057, College Scorecard. University of California-San Diego, University of California-Irvine and University of Southern California award the most Public Health degrees in California: 407, 402 and 400 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 63 California colleges offer Public Health and award 5,810 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Public Health program focuses on promoting health and preventing disease within communities. It prepares students to address health-related issues through various specializations, including Environmental Health, Maternal and Child…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National University San Diego Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $52,057 | 124 | 43% | $31,817 | $37,469 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,351 | 328 | 93% | — | $11,729 |
| 3 | Santa Clara University Santa Clara Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,274 | 60 | 88% | $44,094 | $24,500 |
| 4 | California State University - Chico Chico Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,339 | 95 | 63% | — | $20,750 |
| 5 | San Diego State University San Diego Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,092 | 297 | 76% | — | $13,812 |
| 6 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,750 | 168 | 53% | — | $12,500 |
| 7 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,144 | 407 | 86% | — | $15,280 |
| 8 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,011 | 342 | 57% | — | $14,000 |
| 9 | University of California-Merced Merced Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,555 | 111 | 69% | — | $15,502 |
| 10 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,300 | 400 | 92% | $26,873 | $15,250 |
Colleges awarding the most Public Health degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 407 | $39,144 |
| 2 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 402 | $35,463 |
| 3 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 400 | $36,300 |
| 4 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public | 342 | $39,011 |
| 5 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton Public | 333 | $34,909 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 328 | $48,351 |
| 7 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 297 | $41,092 |
| 8 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 246 | Not reported |
| 9 | San Jose State University San Jose Public | 199 | Not reported |
| 10 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 168 | $40,750 |
ShowHide the other 53 California colleges offering Public Health
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Medical and Health Services Managers (SOC 11-9111).
Top skills
What Medical and Health Services Managers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Public Health programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Public Health degrees?+
University of California-San Diego (407 graduates a year), University of California-Irvine (402 graduates a year) and University of Southern California (400 graduates a year) award the most Public Health degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 63 California colleges offer Public Health.
What is the best college for Public Health in California?+
By graduate earnings, National University leads among bachelor's Public Health programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $52,057, College Scorecard. University of California-Berkeley and Santa Clara University follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-San Diego is the largest, with 407 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Public Health program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, National University tops the list at $52,057. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Medical and Health Services Managers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Medical and Health Services Managers in California is $159,170 (median $141,480), across about 75,090 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Public Health program?+
The Public Health program focuses on promoting health and preventing disease within communities. It prepares students to address health-related issues through various specializations, including Environmental Health, Maternal and Child…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, critical thinking, writing, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Medical and Health Services Managers?+
The national job outlook is about +23.2% growth with around 62,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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