Best institutions to study Epidemiology
A program that focuses on the scientific study of disease, disability, and trauma patterns within and across populations and the development of health management mechanisms to prevent and control disease outbreaks and injurious behaviors.
102 U.S. institutions graduated 3,001 Epidemiology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 26.1309, a specialization of Ecology (CIP 26.13), and leads most directly to the Epidemiologists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1041).
About Epidemiology programs
A program that focuses on the scientific study of disease, disability, and trauma patterns within and across populations and the development of health management mechanisms to prevent and control disease outbreaks and injurious behaviors. Includes instruction in biostatistics, biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, disease and injury determinants, genetic disease and disability factors, behavioral studies, health services research, environmental disease and injury factors, and population studies.
See also: 51.2201 - Public Health, General.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Epidemiology program, a branch of Ecology, focuses on the scientific study of disease, disability, and trauma patterns within populations. This program is designed for students interested in understanding health management mechanisms to prevent and control disease outbreaks and promote public health.
Students will gain knowledge in biostatistics, molecular biology, immunology, and health services research. Core skills developed include critical thinking, active learning, and effective communication, all essential for analyzing health data and educating the public on disease prevention.
Credentials awarded
What Epidemiology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree2,195 graduates / yr · 75 institutions73%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship362 graduates / yr · 56 institutions12%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate158 graduates / yr · 19 institutions5.3%
- Post-master's certificate117 graduates / yr · 4 institutions3.9%
- Bachelor's degree101 graduates / yr · 6 institutions3.4%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year68 graduates / yr · 2 institutions2.3%
Graduates over time
Epidemiology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,202 |
| 2013 | 1,398 |
| 2014 | 1,488 |
| 2015 | 1,751 |
| 2016 | 1,851 |
| 2017 | 1,857 |
| 2018 | 1,990 |
| 2019 | 1,949 |
| 2020 | 2,169 |
| 2021 | 2,296 |
| 2022 | 2,598 |
| 2023 | 3,162 |
| 2024 | 3,046 |
| 2025 | 3,001 |
Top 50 institutions for Epidemiology, 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 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster'sDoctoral | 262 | 96% | $15,315 | — |
| 2 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 201 | 89% | $21,956 | — |
| 3 | Emory University Atlanta, GAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 153 | 91% | $20,586 | — |
| 4 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert.Doctoral | 136 | 94% | $11,888 | — |
| 5 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 127 | 98% | $15,013 | $31,999 |
| 6 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Houston, TXPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 127 | — | — | — |
| 7 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FLPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 100 | 84% | $26,589 | $23,504 |
| 8 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicMaster'sMaster'sDoctoral | 96 | 93% | — | $22,844 |
| 9 | George Washington University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 83 | 84% | $29,789 | — |
| 10 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 81 | 85% | — | $27,100 |
| 11 | Yale University New Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 76 | 96% | $27,025 | — |
| 12 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 70 | 78% | $36,004 | — |
| 13 | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 69 | — | — | — |
| 14 | Brigham Young University - Idaho Rexburg, IDPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 57 | 55% | $6,760 | — |
| 15 | Tufts University Medford, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 57 | 94% | $23,570 | — |
| 16 | University of Memphis Memphis, TNPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 57 | 51% | — | — |
| 17 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 55 | 80% | $24,886 | — |
| 18 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicMaster's | 52 | 84% | — | $27,770 |
| 19 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 49 | 85% | — | — |
| 20 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, COPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 46 | 46% | — | — |
| 21 | Stanford University Stanford, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 46 | 92% | $12,032 | — |
| 22 | California Baptist University Riverside, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 45 | 62% | $26,940 | — |
| 23 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 43 | 85% | — | $33,682 |
| 24 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 40 | 93% | — | $18,728 |
| 25 | Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 37 | 86% | $33,106 | — |
| 26 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 36 | 88% | — | — |
| 27 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 35 | 80% | — | — |
| 28 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IAPublicMaster'sMaster'sDoctoral | 35 | 75% | — | — |
| 29 | Benedictine University Lisle, ILPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 33 | 50% | $23,570 | — |
| 30 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NCPublicDoctoral | 26 | 91% | — | — |
| 31 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 25 | 75% | — | — |
| 32 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 24 | 97% | $22,055 | — |
| 33 | Temple University Philadelphia, PAPublicMaster's | 24 | 75% | — | — |
| 34 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SCPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 24 | 79% | — | $25,271 |
| 35 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OHPublicMaster's | 22 | 64% | — | — |
| 36 | University of Massachusetts - Lowell Lowell, MAPublicMaster's | 21 | 65% | — | — |
| 37 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OHPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 21 | 87% | $27,976 | — |
| 38 | Oregon Health & Science University Portland, ORPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 21 | — | — | — |
| 39 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 20 | 83% | — | — |
| 40 | Duke University Durham, NCPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 19 | 97% | $16,260 | — |
| 41 | University of New Haven West Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 17 | 63% | $32,614 | $29,767 |
| 42 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicDoctoralMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 17 | 91% | — | — |
| 43 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MOPublicPost-degree cert. | 16 | 75% | — | — |
| 44 | University of North Texas Health Science Center Fort Worth, TXPublicMaster's | 16 | — | — | — |
| 45 | University of Nevada - Reno Reno, NVPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 15 | 61% | — | — |
| 46 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearPost-degree cert. | 14 | 90% | — | $25,724 |
| 47 | University of Maryland, Baltimore Baltimore, MDPublicMaster'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 14 | — | — | — |
| 48 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo, NDPublicMaster's | 14 | 64% | — | — |
| 49 | The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston Galveston, TXPublicMaster'sMaster'sDoctoral | 14 | — | — | — |
| 50 | University of Delaware Newark, DEPublicMaster's | 13 | 81% | — | $33,296 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Ecology field (CIP 26.13) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 43 states & territories
Where Epidemiology graduates come from. Each state links to all Ecology programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1041, Epidemiologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Epidemiology program typically pursue careers as epidemiologists, with a median wage of $83,980. The field is expected to grow much faster than average, with an estimated 800 annual openings, primarily requiring a Master's degree for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 26.1309
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Epidemiologistsprimary SOC 19-1041 | $87,220 | +16.2% Much faster than average | ~800 | Master's degree |
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1071 | $107,310 | +17.3% Much faster than average | ~27,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists SOC 19-1042 | $103,410 | +8.7% Much faster than average | ~9,600 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Epidemiology programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Communicate research findings on various types of diseases to health practitioners, policy makers, and the public.
- Oversee public health programs, including statistical analysis, health care planning, surveillance systems, and public health improvement.
- Investigate diseases or parasites to determine cause and risk factors, progress, life cycle, or mode of transmission.
- Educate healthcare workers, patients, and the public about infectious and communicable diseases, including disease transmission and prevention.
- Monitor and report incidents of infectious diseases to local and state health agencies.
- Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
Tools and technology used
Other Ecology specializations
The 11 other 6-digit CIP codes under Ecology (CIP 26.13).
- Marine Biology and Biological OceanographyCIP 26.13022,636 graduates / yr84 institutions
- EcologyCIP 26.13011,166 graduates / yr67 institutions
- Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyCIP 26.1310879 graduates / yr42 institutions
- Environmental BiologyCIP 26.1305481 graduates / yr51 institutions
- Conservation BiologyCIP 26.1307405 graduates / yr37 institutions
- EcologyCIP 26.1399344 graduates / yr17 institutions
- Epidemiology and BiostatisticsCIP 26.1311248 graduates / yr19 institutions
- Evolutionary BiologyCIP 26.1303192 graduates / yr14 institutions
- Aquatic Biology/CIP 26.1304
Limnology partial data126 graduates / yr9 institutions - Systematic Biology/CIP 26.1308
Biological Systematics limited data24 graduates / yr2 institutions - Population BiologyCIP 26.1306partial data10 graduates / yr3 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Master's degree, a Doctor's degree, or various certificates.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, science, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as an epidemiologist, health specialties teacher, or medical scientist.
What is the job outlook for epidemiologists?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with 800 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Epidemiology?+
Epidemiology is CIP 26.1309 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Ecology (CIP 26.13). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the scientific study of disease, disability, and trauma patterns within and across populations and the development of health management mechanisms to prevent and control disease outbreaks and injurious behaviors. Includes instruction in biostatistics, biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, disease and injury determinants, genetic disease and disability factors, behavioral studies, health services research, environmental disease and injury factors, and population studies.
How many institutions offer Epidemiology programs?+
102 U.S. institutions reported Epidemiology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 43 states & territories, awarding 3,001 credentials in the year. That is 31.5% of all Ecology graduates.
How much do Epidemiology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Epidemiologists occupation, which Epidemiology most directly leads to, pays a median of $87,220 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Ecology field report median earnings of $29,318 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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card