Kentucky · Public Health

Best colleges for Public Health in Kentucky

Ranked by graduate earnings

Murray State University, University of Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky University are the top bachelor's Public Health programs in Kentucky by graduate earnings. Murray State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,753, College Scorecard. University of Kentucky, University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University award the most Public Health degrees in Kentucky: 121, 108 and 63 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 8 Kentucky colleges offer Public Health and award 386 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…

Institutions
8
offering CIP 51.22
States & territories
55
with a program page
Degrees / yr
386
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$35,612
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
4
College Scorecard
Median net price
$23,658
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
52%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Medical and Health Services Managers
$123,590
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 4 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Murray State University
Murray Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,7532961%—$26,000
2University of Kentucky
Lexington Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,95712171%—$23,250
3Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree
$35,6124850%—$22,999
4University of Louisville
Louisville Public · Bachelor's degree
$31,82410861%—$18,500

Colleges awarding the most Public Health degrees in Kentucky

Top 8 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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of Kentucky
Lexington Public
121$36,957
2University of Louisville
Louisville Public
108$31,824
3Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green Public
63Not reported
4Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond Public
48$35,612
5Murray State University
Murray Public
29$38,753
6Big Sandy Community and Technical College
Prestonsburg Public
12Not reported
7Thomas More University
Crestview Hills Private not-for-profit
4Not reported
8Midway University
Midway Private not-for-profit
1Not reported

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Medical and Health Services Managers (SOC 11-9111).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+23.2%
Much faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~62,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$117,960
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

SpeakingCritical ThinkingWritingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningMonitoring

What Medical and Health Services Managers earn in Kentucky

Jobs in Kentucky
8,600
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$123,590
median $103,450
Best-paying metro
$134,940
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN

Related careers

Medical and Health Services Managers
$123,590 avg · 8,600 jobs
Compliance Officers
$72,580 avg · 4,360 jobs
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
$87,530 avg · 2,480 jobs
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
$71,160 avg · 1,000 jobs
Community Health Workers
$51,300 avg · 980 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Public Health programs in Kentucky.

Which Kentucky colleges award the most Public Health degrees?+

University of Kentucky (121 graduates a year), University of Louisville (108 graduates a year) and Western Kentucky University (63 graduates a year) award the most Public Health degrees in Kentucky, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 8 Kentucky colleges offer Public Health.

What is the best college for Public Health in Kentucky?+

By graduate earnings, Murray State University leads among bachelor's Public Health programs in Kentucky, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,753, College Scorecard. University of Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Kentucky is the largest, with 121 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Public Health program in Kentucky has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Murray State University tops the list at $38,753. 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 Kentucky?+

The average annual wage for Medical and Health Services Managers in Kentucky is $123,590 (median $103,450), across about 8,600 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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