Best institutions to study Lactation Consultant
A program that prepares individuals to provide lactation management services and breastfeeding support to women, and to work as a Lactation Consultant in a variety of clinical settings.
4 U.S. institutions graduated 47 Lactation Consultant students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.0815, a specialization of Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (CIP 51.08), and leads most directly to the Healthcare Support Workers, All Other occupation (BLS SOC 31-9099).
About Lactation Consultant programs
A program that prepares individuals to provide lactation management services and breastfeeding support to women, and to work as a Lactation Consultant in a variety of clinical settings. Includes instruction in anatomy and physiology of lactation, nutrition, breastfeeding techniques and technologies, common concerns and solutions, management of special situations, breastfeeding instruction, professional and legal concerns, and advocacy.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Lactation Consultant program prepares individuals to provide essential lactation management services and breastfeeding support to women in various clinical settings. This program is ideal for those interested in health professions and related services, focusing on helping new mothers navigate breastfeeding challenges and promote healthy infant feeding practices. Students in this program will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to work as Lactation Consultants, addressing common concerns and solutions related to breastfeeding. This program is suitable for individuals seeking a fulfilling career in healthcare support, particularly in maternal and child health.
Core coursework includes instruction in the anatomy and physiology of lactation, nutrition, breastfeeding techniques, and technologies. Students will also learn about managing special situations, providing breastfeeding instruction, and understanding professional and legal concerns related to lactation support.
Credentials awarded
What Lactation Consultant graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years20 graduates / yr · 2 institutions43%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate15 graduates / yr · 1 institution32%
- Master's degree9 graduates / yr · 1 institution19%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year3 graduates / yr · 1 institution6.4%
Graduates over time
Lactation Consultant completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 19 |
| 2019 | 20 |
| 2020 | 33 |
| 2021 | 45 |
| 2022 | 49 |
| 2023 | 58 |
| 2024 | 37 |
| 2025 | 47 |
Top 4 institutions for Lactation Consultant, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, COPublicPost-degree cert.Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 18 | 32% | — | — |
| 2 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 14 | 78% | $36,004 | — |
| 3 | National Louis University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 9 | 30% | $18,904 | — |
| 4 | Henry Ford College Dearborn, MIPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 6 | 17% | — | $17,369 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services field (CIP 51.08) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 4 states
Where Lactation Consultant graduates come from. Each state links to all Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 1 | 18 | Metropolitan State University of Denver18 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 14 | Drexel University14 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 9 | National Louis University9 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 6 | Henry Ford College6 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 31-9099, Healthcare Support Workers, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Lactation Consultant program can pursue careers as Healthcare Support Workers, among other roles. The job outlook for this field is about as fast as average, with an estimated annual opening of 14,400 positions and a median wage of $46,050. Typical education required includes a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.0815
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Healthcare Support Workers, All Otherprimary SOC 31-9099 | $48,430 | +3.5% About as fast as average | ~14,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Related careers
Other Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services specializations
The 13 other 6-digit CIP codes under Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (CIP 51.08).
- Medical/CIP 51.0801
Clinical Assistant 55,276 graduates / yr1,057 institutions - Pharmacy Technician/CIP 51.0805
Assistant 8,060 graduates / yr353 institutions - Physical Therapy AssistantCIP 51.08065,489 graduates / yr360 institutions
- Allied Health and Medical Assisting ServicesCIP 51.08994,386 graduates / yr75 institutions
- Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance)CIP 51.08104,277 graduates / yr79 institutions
- Occupational Therapist AssistantCIP 51.08033,204 graduates / yr213 institutions
- Radiologist AssistantCIP 51.0814partial data1,676 graduates / yr9 institutions
- Clinical/CIP 51.0802
Medical Laboratory Assistant 663 graduates / yr34 institutions - Anesthesiologist AssistantCIP 51.0809497 graduates / yr24 institutions
- Speech-Language Pathology AssistantCIP 51.0816304 graduates / yr21 institutions
- Respiratory Therapy Technician/CIP 51.0812
Assistant 258 graduates / yr19 institutions - Pathology/CIP 51.0811
Pathologist Assistant 178 graduates / yr13 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Chiropractic Technician/
Assistant51.0813
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
See all Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services programs →
Common questions
What is a Lactation Consultant?+
A Lactation Consultant provides breastfeeding support and lactation management services to new mothers.
What will I learn in this program?+
You will learn about lactation anatomy, breastfeeding techniques, nutrition, and how to address common breastfeeding challenges.
What kind of jobs can I get after this program?+
You can work as a Healthcare Support Worker or in other roles related to lactation and maternal health.
What is the job outlook for Lactation Consultants?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with 14,400 annual openings and a median wage of $46,050.
What is the CIP code for Lactation Consultant?+
Lactation Consultant is CIP 51.0815 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (CIP 51.08). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to provide lactation management services and breastfeeding support to women, and to work as a Lactation Consultant in a variety of clinical settings. Includes instruction in anatomy and physiology of lactation, nutrition, breastfeeding techniques and technologies, common concerns and solutions, management of special situations, breastfeeding instruction, professional and legal concerns, and advocacy.
How many institutions offer Lactation Consultant programs?+
4 U.S. institutions reported Lactation Consultant graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 4 states, awarding 47 credentials in the year. That is 0.1% of all Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services graduates.
How much do Lactation Consultant graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Healthcare Support Workers, All Other occupation, which Lactation Consultant most directly leads to, pays a median of $48,430 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services field report median earnings of $17,369 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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