Best institutions to study Health and Wellness
A program of study that prepares individuals to assume roles as health/wellness professionals in private business and industry, community organizations, and health care settings.
212 U.S. institutions graduated 6,448 Health and Wellness students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.0001, a specialization of Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences (CIP 51.00), and leads most directly to the Health Education Specialists occupation (BLS SOC 21-1091).
About Health and Wellness programs
A program of study that prepares individuals to assume roles as health/wellness professionals in private business and industry, community organizations, and health care settings. Includes instruction in personal health, community health and welfare, nutrition, epidemiology, disease prevention, fitness and exercise, and health behaviors.
See also: 31.0501 - Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Health and Wellness program prepares individuals for careers as health and wellness professionals across various sectors, including private businesses, community organizations, and healthcare settings. This program focuses on equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote health and wellness in diverse environments.
Students in the Health and Wellness program will gain core skills in speaking, active listening, and critical thinking. Coursework typically includes topics such as personal health, community health, nutrition, epidemiology, and disease prevention, providing a comprehensive foundation for a career in health promotion.
Credentials awarded
What Health and Wellness graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree3,686 graduates / yr · 133 institutions57%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1,323 graduates / yr · 21 institutions21%
- Associate's degree845 graduates / yr · 36 institutions13%
- Master's degree349 graduates / yr · 33 institutions5.4%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate146 graduates / yr · 19 institutions2.3%
- Doctor's degree - professional practice36 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.6%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship21 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.3%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years20 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.3%
- Post-master's certificate19 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.3%
- Award of less than 12 weeks3 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
Graduates over time
Health and Wellness completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 765 |
| 2013 | 1,481 |
| 2014 | 2,290 |
| 2015 | 3,033 |
| 2016 | 2,800 |
| 2017 | 3,992 |
| 2018 | 4,653 |
| 2019 | 4,849 |
| 2020 | 5,036 |
| 2021 | 6,081 |
| 2022 | 5,921 |
| 2023 | 5,362 |
| 2024 | 5,590 |
| 2025 | 6,448 |
Top 50 institutions for Health and Wellness, 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 | Utah Valley University Orem, UTPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor'sAssociate's | 888 | 45% | — | — |
| 2 | Purdue University Global West Lafayette, INPublicBachelor'sAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 789 | 50% | — | $41,104 |
| 3 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicBachelor's | 368 | 84% | — | $37,331 |
| 4 | Tulsa Technology Center Tulsa, OKPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 316 | 81% | — | — |
| 5 | University of Houston Houston, TXPublicBachelor's | 311 | 65% | — | $32,447 |
| 6 | Utah State University Logan, UTPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 152 | 59% | — | — |
| 7 | Carrington College - Phoenix North Phoenix, AZPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 122 | 62% | — | $36,999 |
| 8 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 121 | 66% | — | $27,347 |
| 9 | American College of Healthcare Sciences Portland, ORPrivate for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearPost-degree cert.Associate's | 107 | 100% | $24,073 | $30,774 |
| 10 | University of Rhode Island Kingston, RIPublicBachelor's | 104 | 73% | — | — |
| 11 | Carrington College - Sacramento Sacramento, CAPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 101 | 51% | $38,203 | $29,853 |
| 12 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WVPublicBachelor's | 100 | 65% | — | — |
| 13 | Prairie View A & M University Prairie View, TXPublicBachelor's | 84 | 43% | — | $32,266 |
| 14 | Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, ALPublicBachelor's | 80 | 55% | — | $24,692 |
| 15 | Southern Connecticut State University New Haven, CTPublicBachelor's | 72 | 50% | — | — |
| 16 | University of West Georgia Carrollton, GAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 70 | 43% | — | $30,522 |
| 17 | Northern Wyoming Community College District Sheridan, WYPublicAssociate's | 69 | 42% | — | — |
| 18 | University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Milwaukee, WIPublicPost-degree cert. | 65 | 49% | — | — |
| 19 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicBachelor's | 63 | 85% | — | $53,988 |
| 20 | State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, NYPublicBachelor'sMaster'sMaster's | 63 | 60% | — | — |
| 21 | Georgia Gwinnett College Lawrenceville, GAPublicBachelor's | 63 | 21% | — | — |
| 22 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZPublicBachelor's | 61 | 0% | — | $37,967 |
| 23 | Tuskegee University Tuskegee, ALPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 59 | 55% | $33,313 | $26,437 |
| 24 | Indiana University - South Bend South Bend, INPublicBachelor's | 59 | 40% | — | $32,829 |
| 25 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 54 | 68% | — | $37,967 |
| 26 | Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sMaster's | 48 | 86% | $33,106 | $39,553 |
| 27 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro, ARPublicBachelor's | 45 | 55% | — | $30,586 |
| 28 | Maryville University of Saint Louis Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 42 | 66% | $24,921 | — |
| 29 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 42 | 75% | — | — |
| 30 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TXPublicBachelor's | 42 | 53% | — | $34,454 |
| 31 | University of Vermont Burlington, VTPublicBachelor's | 42 | 79% | — | $36,441 |
| 32 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJPublicMaster'sBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearPost-degree cert. | 39 | 67% | — | $27,584 |
| 33 | Trinity Washington University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 38 | 49% | $14,841 | $30,904 |
| 34 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MOPublicBachelor's | 37 | 54% | — | $32,268 |
| 35 | Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, MIPublicAssociate's | 36 | 33% | — | — |
| 36 | Monroe University Bronx, NYPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 35 | 57% | $12,028 | — |
| 37 | Laramie County Community College Cheyenne, WYPublicAssociate's | 35 | 38% | — | $31,908 |
| 38 | University of the Pacific Stockton, CAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 34 | 69% | $23,964 | — |
| 39 | Towson University Towson, MDPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 34 | 69% | — | $41,095 |
| 40 | Texas Woman's University Denton, TXPublicBachelor's | 34 | 49% | — | $34,755 |
| 41 | Creighton University Omaha, NEPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 33 | 83% | $27,353 | $47,496 |
| 42 | Rice University Houston, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 33 | 95% | $13,264 | — |
| 43 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicBachelor's | 32 | 68% | — | — |
| 44 | Farmingdale State College Farmingdale, NYPublicBachelor's | 32 | 53% | — | — |
| 45 | Lone Star College System The Woodlands, TXPublicAssociate's | 32 | 21% | — | — |
| 46 | Portland State University Portland, ORPublicBachelor's | 31 | 53% | — | $37,709 |
| 47 | North Greenville University Tigerville, SCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 30 | 55% | $20,327 | $26,681 |
| 48 | Roosevelt University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 28 | 35% | $21,085 | — |
| 49 | Simpson College Indianola, IAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 28 | 63% | $20,710 | — |
| 50 | Texas Southern University Houston, TXPublicBachelor's | 28 | 22% | — | $20,655 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences field (CIP 51.00) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 49 states
Where Health and Wellness graduates come from. Each state links to all Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 21-1091, Health Education Specialists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Health and Wellness program can pursue careers as Health Education Specialists or Community Health Workers. The job outlook for this field is promising, with an annual growth rate of 4.5% and approximately 7,900 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is around $63,000, typically requiring at least a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.0001
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Health Education Specialistsprimary SOC 21-1091 | $64,070 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~7,900 | Bachelor's degree |
Community Health Workers SOC 21-1094 | $51,850 | +11.3% Much faster than average | ~7,800 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Health and Wellness 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
- Prepare and distribute health education materials, such as reports, bulletins, and visual aids, to address smoking, vaccines, and other public health concerns.
- Develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with agencies and organizations interested in public health care.
- Maintain databases, mailing lists, telephone networks, and other information to facilitate the functioning of health education programs.
- Document activities and record information, such as the numbers of applications completed, presentations conducted, and persons assisted.
- Develop and present health education and promotion programs, such as training workshops, conferences, and school or community presentations.
- Collaborate with health specialists and civic groups to determine community health needs and the availability of services and to develop goals for meeting needs.
Tools and technology used
Other Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences specializations
The 1 other 6-digit CIP codes under Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences (CIP 51.00).
Common questions
What types of degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, an Associate's degree, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and more, which are essential for health education.
What is the job outlook for health and wellness professionals?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.5% and around 7,900 annual job openings.
What occupations can I pursue after graduation?+
You can pursue careers as Health Education Specialists or Community Health Workers.
What is the CIP code for Health and Wellness?+
Health and Wellness is CIP 51.0001 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences (CIP 51.00). NCES defines it as: A program of study that prepares individuals to assume roles as health/wellness professionals in private business and industry, community organizations, and health care settings. Includes instruction in personal health, community health and welfare, nutrition, epidemiology, disease prevention, fitness and exercise, and health behaviors.
How many institutions offer Health and Wellness programs?+
212 U.S. institutions reported Health and Wellness graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 49 states, awarding 6,448 credentials in the year. That is 14.2% of all Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences graduates.
How much do Health and Wellness graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Health Education Specialists occupation, which Health and Wellness most directly leads to, pays a median of $64,070 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences field report median earnings of $34,657 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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