Best colleges for Public Health in North Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
Duke University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Elon University are the top bachelor's Public Health programs in North Carolina by graduate earnings. Duke University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,921, College Scorecard. East Carolina University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro and University of North Carolina at Charlotte award the most Public Health degrees in North Carolina: 314, 135 and 105 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 28 North Carolina colleges offer Public Health and award 1,453 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 | Duke University Durham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,921 | 21 | 97% | $16,260 | $12,500 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,239 | 135 | 56% | — | $25,500 |
| 3 | Elon University Elon Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,088 | 29 | 84% | $33,688 | $20,500 |
| 4 | North Carolina Central University Durham Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,198 | 26 | 42% | — | $31,000 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,458 | 95 | 71% | — | $23,500 |
| 6 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,307 | 105 | 69% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | East Carolina University Greenville Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,628 | 314 | 63% | — | $25,750 |
| 8 | Appalachian State University Boone Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,148 | 67 | 75% | — | $20,361 |
| 9 | University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,913 | 40 | 54% | — | $23,141 |
| 10 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $58,660 | 9 | 57% | — | — |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public · Graduate degree | $75,591 | 491 | 91% | — | $16,203 |
Colleges awarding the most Public Health degrees in North Carolina
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 | East Carolina University Greenville Public | 314 | $35,628 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public | 135 | $42,239 |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public | 105 | $36,307 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public | 95 | $36,458 |
| 5 | Appalachian State University Boone Public | 67 | $34,148 |
| 6 | University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville Public | 40 | $27,913 |
| 7 | Elon University Elon Private not-for-profit | 29 | $42,088 |
| 8 | North Carolina Central University Durham Public | 26 | $38,198 |
| 9 | Campbell University Buies Creek Private not-for-profit | 22 | Not reported |
| 10 | Duke University Durham Private not-for-profit | 21 | $45,921 |
ShowHide the other 18 North Carolina colleges offering Public Health
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill | Public | 491 |
| Wingate University | Wingate | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville | Public | 14 |
| Meredith College | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| North Carolina A & T State University | Greensboro | Public | 9 |
| Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Carolina University | Winston-Salem | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Johnson C Smith University | Charlotte | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Western Carolina University | Cullowhee | Public | 6 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| North Carolina Wesleyan University | Rocky Mount | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Salem College | Winston-Salem | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Guilford College | Greensboro | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Saint Augustine's University | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Barton College | Wilson | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Raleigh | Public | 1 |
| Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte | Charlotte | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
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 North Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Public Health programs in North Carolina.
Which North Carolina colleges award the most Public Health degrees?+
East Carolina University (314 graduates a year), University of North Carolina at Greensboro (135 graduates a year) and University of North Carolina at Charlotte (105 graduates a year) award the most Public Health degrees in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 28 North Carolina colleges offer Public Health.
What is the best college for Public Health in North Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, Duke University leads among bachelor's Public Health programs in North Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,921, College Scorecard. University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Elon University follow. By degrees awarded, East Carolina University is the largest, with 314 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Public Health program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Duke University tops the list at $45,921. 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 North Carolina?+
The average annual wage for Medical and Health Services Managers in North Carolina is $135,710 (median $114,410), across about 14,820 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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