Best institutions to study Hospice and Palliative Care
A program of study that prepares individuals to work with patients in hospice and palliative care and focuses on the physical, psychological, spiritual, and social needs of patients and families affected by advanced illness.
2 U.S. institutions graduated 5 Hospice and Palliative Care students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.1512, a specialization of Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (CIP 51.15), and leads most directly to the Healthcare Social Workers occupation (BLS SOC 21-1022).
About Hospice and Palliative Care programs
A program of study that prepares individuals to work with patients in hospice and palliative care and focuses on the physical, psychological, spiritual, and social needs of patients and families affected by advanced illness. Includes instruction in aging, thanatology, pharmacology, complementary and integrative therapies, pathophysiology, and ethics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Hospice and Palliative Care program prepares individuals to support patients and families facing advanced illnesses. This program focuses on addressing the physical, psychological, spiritual, and social needs of those in hospice and palliative settings. It is ideal for those interested in making a meaningful impact in the lives of patients during critical times.
Students will gain essential skills in areas such as psychology, therapy, and counseling, alongside coursework in aging, thanatology, pharmacology, and ethics. Core skills developed include critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication, all vital for providing compassionate care.
Credentials awarded
What Hospice and Palliative Care graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year3 graduates / yr · 1 institution60%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship2 graduates / yr · 1 institution40%
Graduates over time
Hospice and Palliative Care completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 5 |
CIP 51.1512 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 2 institutions for Hospice and Palliative Care, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 68% | — |
| 2 | University of Maryland, Baltimore Baltimore, MDPublicDoctoral | 2 | — | — |
Offered in 2 states
Where Hospice and Palliative Care graduates come from. Each state links to all Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 1 | 3 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion3 / yr |
| Maryland | 1 | 2 | University of Maryland, Baltimore2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 21-1022, Healthcare Social Workers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Hospice and Palliative Care program can pursue careers as Healthcare Social Workers or in related fields. The job outlook is promising, with a growth rate of 7.7% and approximately 18,400 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is around $68,090, typically requiring a Master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.1512
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 Social Workersprimary SOC 21-1022 | $67,880 | +7.7% Faster than average | ~18,400 | Master's degree |
Social Workers, All Other SOC 21-1029 | $71,900 | +3.9% About as fast as average | ~7,000 | Bachelor's 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 Hospice and Palliative Care 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
- Advocate for clients or patients to resolve crises.
- Educate clients about end-of-life symptoms and options to assist them in making informed decisions.
- Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate patients' medical or physical condition and to assess client needs.
- Refer patient, client, or family to community resources to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness and to provide access to services such as financial assistance, legal aid, housing, job placement or education.
- Utilize consultation data and social work experience to plan and coordinate client or patient care and rehabilitation, following through to ensure service efficacy.
- Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress according to measurable goals described in treatment and care plan.
Tools and technology used
Other Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions specializations
The 13 other 6-digit CIP codes under Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (CIP 51.15).
- Mental Health Counseling/CIP 51.1508
Counselor 12,033 graduates / yr305 institutions - Substance Abuse/CIP 51.1501
Addiction Counseling 6,319 graduates / yr387 institutions - Marriage and Family Therapy/CIP 51.1505
Counseling 4,547 graduates / yr138 institutions - Mental and Social Health Services and Allied ProfessionsCIP 51.15993,932 graduates / yr111 institutions
- Clinical/CIP 51.1503
Medical Social Work 3,398 graduates / yr53 institutions - Psychiatric/CIP 51.1502
Mental Health Services Technician 2,776 graduates / yr77 institutions - Community Health Services/CIP 51.1504
Liaison/ Counseling 2,189 graduates / yr102 institutions - Genetic Counseling/CIP 51.1509
Counselor 402 graduates / yr36 institutions - Clinical Pastoral Counseling/CIP 51.1506
Patient Counseling 217 graduates / yr18 institutions - Trauma CounselingCIP 51.1513214 graduates / yr17 institutions
- Psychoanalysis and PsychotherapyCIP 51.1507limited data10 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Medical Family Therapy/CIP 51.1511
Therapist limited data7 graduates / yr2 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Infant/
Toddler Mental Health Services51.1510
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
See all Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions programs →
Common questions
What is the duration of the program?+
The program awards credentials for at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, critical thinking, active listening, and more.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a Healthcare Social Worker or in other related social work roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 7.7%.
What is the CIP code for Hospice and Palliative Care?+
Hospice and Palliative Care is CIP 51.1512 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (CIP 51.15). NCES defines it as: A program of study that prepares individuals to work with patients in hospice and palliative care and focuses on the physical, psychological, spiritual, and social needs of patients and families affected by advanced illness. Includes instruction in aging, thanatology, pharmacology, complementary and integrative therapies, pathophysiology, and ethics.
How many institutions offer Hospice and Palliative Care programs?+
2 U.S. institutions reported Hospice and Palliative Care graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 2 states, awarding 5 credentials in the year. That is 0.0% of all Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions graduates.
How much do Hospice and Palliative Care graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Healthcare Social Workers occupation, which Hospice and Palliative Care most directly leads to, pays a median of $67,880 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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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