Best colleges for Public Health in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Illinois State University, University of Illinois Chicago and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are the top bachelor's Public Health programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Illinois State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $59,207, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Chicago, Benedictine University and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign award the most Public Health degrees in Illinois: 235, 168 and 160 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 26 Illinois colleges offer Public Health and award 1,182 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 6 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 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,207 | 31 | 65% | — | $22,250 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,585 | 235 | 62% | — | $22,987 |
| 3 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,564 | 160 | 85% | — | $20,678 |
| 4 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,956 | 63 | 95% | $14,799 | $14,684 |
| 5 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,023 | 35 | 57% | — | $29,223 |
| 6 | Governors State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,537 | 26 | 22% | — | $23,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Public Health degrees in Illinois
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 Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 235 | $41,585 |
| 2 | Benedictine University Lisle Private not-for-profit | 168 | Not reported |
| 3 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 160 | $40,564 |
| 4 | Chamberlain University - Illinois Addison Private for-profit | 135 | Not reported |
| 5 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 63 | Not reported |
| 6 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 63 | $39,956 |
| 7 | University of Illinois Springfield Springfield Public | 49 | Not reported |
| 8 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public | 39 | Not reported |
| 9 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public | 35 | $35,023 |
| 10 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 31 | $59,207 |
ShowHide the other 16 Illinois colleges offering Public Health
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governors State University | University Park | Public | 26 |
| Northern Illinois University | Dekalb | Public | 26 |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | Public | 26 |
| DePaul University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| National Louis University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Augustana College | Rock Island | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Eastern Illinois University | Charleston | Public | 11 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Bradley University | Peoria | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Western Illinois University | Macomb | Public | 8 |
| Midwestern University - Downers Grove (Graduate only) | Downers Grove | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Chicago State University | Chicago | Public | 4 |
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine | Public | 3 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
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 Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Public Health programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Public Health degrees?+
University of Illinois Chicago (235 graduates a year), Benedictine University (168 graduates a year) and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (160 graduates a year) award the most Public Health degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 26 Illinois colleges offer Public Health.
What is the best college for Public Health in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, Illinois State University leads among bachelor's Public Health programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $59,207, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Chicago and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign follow. By degrees awarded, University of Illinois Chicago is the largest, with 235 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Public Health program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Illinois State University tops the list at $59,207. 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 Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Medical and Health Services Managers in Illinois is $139,160 (median $117,850), across about 22,460 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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