Best institutions to study Community Health and Preventive Medicine
A program that prepares public health specialists to plan and manage health services in local community settings, including the coordination of related support services, government agencies, and private resources.
121 U.S. institutions graduated 3,507 Community Health and Preventive Medicine students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.2208, a specialization of Public Health (CIP 51.22), and leads most directly to the Medical and Health Services Managers occupation (BLS SOC 11-9111).
About Community Health and Preventive Medicine programs
A program that prepares public health specialists to plan and manage health services in local community settings, including the coordination of related support services, government agencies, and private resources. Includes instruction in public health, community health services and delivery, health behavior and cultural factors, local government operations, human services, health communication and promotion, health services administration in local settings, environmental health, preventive and comparative medicine, epidemiology, biostatistics, family and community health, and applicable law and regulations.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Community Health and Preventive Medicine program prepares students to become public health specialists who plan and manage health services in local communities. This program is ideal for individuals interested in coordinating health initiatives, working with government agencies, and utilizing private resources to improve community health outcomes.
Students in this program gain knowledge in public health, community health services, health behavior, and environmental health. Coursework also covers health communication, epidemiology, and health services administration, equipping graduates with essential skills for effective health program management.
Credentials awarded
What Community Health and Preventive Medicine graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree1,529 graduates / yr · 46 institutions44%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1,214 graduates / yr · 27 institutions35%
- Master's degree421 graduates / yr · 27 institutions12%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate95 graduates / yr · 13 institutions2.7%
- Award of less than 12 weeks81 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.3%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years79 graduates / yr · 7 institutions2.3%
- Associate's degree50 graduates / yr · 18 institutions1.4%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship38 graduates / yr · 12 institutions1.1%
Graduates over time
Community Health and Preventive Medicine completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,280 |
| 2013 | 1,538 |
| 2014 | 1,546 |
| 2015 | 1,653 |
| 2016 | 1,911 |
| 2017 | 2,133 |
| 2018 | 2,286 |
| 2019 | 2,293 |
| 2020 | 2,291 |
| 2021 | 2,253 |
| 2022 | 2,198 |
| 2023 | 2,017 |
| 2024 | 2,536 |
| 2025 | 3,507 |
Top 50 institutions for Community Health and Preventive Medicine, 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 | Brigham Young University - Idaho Rexburg, IDPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 892 | 55% | $6,760 | $30,128 |
| 2 | Western Governors University Salt Lake City, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 346 | 46% | $11,580 | — |
| 3 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 204 | 91% | — | $30,056 |
| 4 | George Mason University Fairfax, VAPublicBachelor's | 170 | 68% | — | $37,025 |
| 5 | City College of San Francisco San Francisco, CAPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 151 | 40% | — | — |
| 6 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, ILPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 146 | 85% | — | $40,564 |
| 7 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 123 | 80% | — | $42,790 |
| 8 | Utah Valley University Orem, UTPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor'sAssociate's | 82 | 45% | — | $38,102 |
| 9 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MDPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 78 | 89% | — | $38,273 |
| 10 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 72 | 93% | — | — |
| 11 | Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FLPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 59 | 45% | — | — |
| 12 | Portland State University Portland, ORPublicBachelor's | 54 | 53% | — | $36,762 |
| 13 | Monroe University Bronx, NYPrivate for-profitBachelor's | 53 | 57% | $12,028 | $43,383 |
| 14 | St Catherine University Saint Paul, MNPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor's | 47 | 61% | $21,042 | $42,407 |
| 15 | Hofstra University Hempstead, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 46 | 69% | $34,539 | $39,451 |
| 16 | Tufts University Medford, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 43 | 94% | $23,570 | $53,372 |
| 17 | University of Wisconsin - La Crosse La Crosse, WIPublicBachelor's | 43 | 71% | — | $41,585 |
| 18 | Kean University Union, NJPublicBachelor's | 41 | 47% | — | — |
| 19 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert.Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 36 | 75% | — | $32,685 |
| 20 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TXPublicMaster's | 34 | 53% | — | $33,514 |
| 21 | Murray State University Murray, KYPublicBachelor's | 29 | 61% | — | $38,753 |
| 22 | Stanford University Stanford, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 28 | 92% | $12,032 | — |
| 23 | Governors State University University Park, ILPublicBachelor's | 26 | 22% | — | $36,537 |
| 24 | Western Washington University Bellingham, WAPublicBachelor's | 26 | 65% | — | — |
| 25 | University of South Dakota Vermillion, SDPublicMaster'sBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 23 | 60% | — | — |
| 26 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicPost-degree cert. | 22 | 65% | — | $37,068 |
| 27 | University of Florida - Online Gainesville, FLPublicBachelor's | 22 | 85% | — | $30,056 |
| 28 | Keck Graduate Institute Claremont, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 20 | — | — | — |
| 29 | Foothill College Los Altos Hills, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 19 | 56% | — | — |
| 30 | The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Memphis, TNPublicPost-degree cert. | 19 | — | — | — |
| 31 | Cabrillo College Aptos, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 18 | 38% | — | — |
| 32 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, ALPublicMaster's | 17 | 73% | — | $35,698 |
| 33 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicBachelor's | 17 | 86% | — | $39,144 |
| 34 | Howard University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 15 | 70% | $48,194 | — |
| 35 | Cleveland State University Cleveland, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearPost-degree cert. | 15 | 51% | — | — |
| 36 | Moravian University Bethlehem, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 15 | 72% | $28,454 | $30,566 |
| 37 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MAPublicMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearDoctoral | 14 | 83% | — | $37,364 |
| 38 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CAPublicMaster's | 13 | 87% | — | $35,463 |
| 39 | Louisiana State University - Shreveport Shreveport, LAPublicBachelor's | 13 | 38% | — | — |
| 40 | Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NMPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 31% | — | — |
| 41 | University of Washington - Bothell Campus Bothell, WAPublicMaster's | 13 | 65% | — | — |
| 42 | Big Sandy Community and Technical College Prestonsburg, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 12 | 38% | — | — |
| 43 | Brown University Providence, RIPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 12 | 96% | $14,644 | $75,909 |
| 44 | Alaska Pacific University Anchorage, AKPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 11 | 47% | $18,927 | — |
| 45 | Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 11 | 49% | — | — |
| 46 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston, ILPublicMaster's | 11 | 47% | — | — |
| 47 | Wilmington University New Castle, DEPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 10 | 20% | $16,588 | — |
| 48 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KYPublicBachelor's | 10 | 56% | — | — |
| 49 | Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, MNPublicBachelor's | 10 | 40% | — | $32,830 |
| 50 | Rasmussen University - Minnesota St. Cloud, MNPrivate for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 53% | $19,944 | $35,433 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Public Health field (CIP 51.22) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 39 states
Where Community Health and Preventive Medicine graduates come from. Each state links to all Public Health programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-9111, Medical and Health Services Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Community Health and Preventive Medicine program can pursue careers as Medical and Health Services Managers, Community Health Workers, and Health Specialties Teachers. The job outlook is strong, with a projected growth rate of 23.2%, annual openings of 62,100, and a median wage of $117,960 for those with a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.2208
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Medical and Health Services Managersprimary SOC 11-9111 | $123,860 | +23.2% Much faster than average | ~62,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1071 | $107,310 | +17.3% Much faster than average | ~27,400 | Doctoral or professional 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 Community Health and Preventive Medicine 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
- Direct, supervise and evaluate work activities of medical, nursing, technical, clerical, service, maintenance, and other personnel.
- Develop and maintain computerized record management systems to store and process data, such as personnel activities and information, and to produce reports.
- Plan, implement, and administer programs and services in a health care or medical facility, including personnel administration, training, and coordination of medical, nursing and physical plant staff.
- Conduct and administer fiscal operations, including accounting, planning budgets, authorizing expenditures, establishing rates for services, and coordinating financial reporting.
- Maintain awareness of advances in medicine, computerized diagnostic and treatment equipment, data processing technology, government regulations, health insurance changes, and financing options.
- Establish work schedules and assignments for staff, according to workload, space, and equipment availability.
Tools and technology used
Other Public Health specializations
The 12 other 6-digit CIP codes under Public Health (CIP 51.22).
- Public HealthCIP 51.220124,565 graduates / yr483 institutions
- Public Health Education and PromotionCIP 51.22073,740 graduates / yr157 institutions
- Public HealthCIP 51.22992,709 graduates / yr67 institutions
- Health Services AdministrationCIP 51.22112,260 graduates / yr121 institutions
- International Public Health/CIP 51.2210
International Health 1,359 graduates / yr64 institutions - Environmental HealthCIP 51.22021,306 graduates / yr88 institutions
- Behavioral Aspects of HealthCIP 51.2212751 graduates / yr55 institutions
- Health/CIP 51.2205
Medical Physics 332 graduates / yr37 institutions - Occupational Health and Industrial HygieneCIP 51.2206300 graduates / yr27 institutions
- Maternal and Child HealthCIP 51.2209225 graduates / yr22 institutions
- Patient Safety and Healthcare QualityCIP 51.2213partial data104 graduates / yr9 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Public Health Genetics51.2214
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degree do I need for this program?+
A Bachelor's degree is typically required for careers in Community Health and Preventive Medicine.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, critical thinking, writing, and active listening.
What types of jobs can I get?+
You can work as a Medical and Health Services Manager, Community Health Worker, or Health Specialties Teacher.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 23.2%.
What is the CIP code for Community Health and Preventive Medicine?+
Community Health and Preventive Medicine is CIP 51.2208 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Public Health (CIP 51.22). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares public health specialists to plan and manage health services in local community settings, including the coordination of related support services, government agencies, and private resources. Includes instruction in public health, community health services and delivery, health behavior and cultural factors, local government operations, human services, health communication and promotion, health services administration in local settings, environmental health, preventive and comparative medicine, epidemiology, biostatistics, family and community health, and applicable law and regulations.
How many institutions offer Community Health and Preventive Medicine programs?+
121 U.S. institutions reported Community Health and Preventive Medicine graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 39 states, awarding 3,507 credentials in the year. That is 8.5% of all Public Health graduates.
How much do Community Health and Preventive Medicine graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Medical and Health Services Managers occupation, which Community Health and Preventive Medicine most directly leads to, pays a median of $123,860 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Public Health field report median earnings of $37,068 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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