Best institutions to study Maternal and Child Health
A program that focuses on the application of public health specializations, public policy studies, and the social and behavioral sciences to issues of health affecting women, children, and families; and prepares individuals to function as maternal and child health specialists.
22 U.S. institutions graduated 225 Maternal and Child Health students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.2209, a specialization of Public Health (CIP 51.22), and leads most directly to the Health Education Specialists occupation (BLS SOC 21-1091).
About Maternal and Child Health programs
A program that focuses on the application of public health specializations, public policy studies, and the social and behavioral sciences to issues of health affecting women, children, and families; and prepares individuals to function as maternal and child health specialists. Includes instruction in research design and testing, program evaluation, public policy analysis, public finance, economics of health care, community health, family development and dynamics, women's studies, social psychology, fetal and child development, biostatistics, health education and promotion, nutrition, neonatal development, psychology, and social services delivery.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Maternal and Child Health program, a specialization within Public Health, focuses on addressing health issues affecting women, children, and families. It prepares individuals to become maternal and child health specialists by integrating public health practices, policy studies, and social sciences into their training. This program is ideal for those passionate about improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
Students in this program gain essential skills in research design, program evaluation, public policy analysis, and community health. Coursework covers topics such as fetal and child development, nutrition, health education, and social services delivery, equipping graduates with a comprehensive understanding of maternal and child health.
Credentials awarded
What Maternal and Child Health graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Postbaccalaureate certificate121 graduates / yr · 13 institutions54%
- Master's degree44 graduates / yr · 4 institutions20%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year20 graduates / yr · 1 institution8.9%
- Bachelor's degree15 graduates / yr · 1 institution6.7%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship14 graduates / yr · 2 institutions6.2%
- Post-master's certificate11 graduates / yr · 1 institution4.9%
Graduates over time
Maternal and Child Health completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 148 |
| 2013 | 186 |
| 2014 | 231 |
| 2015 | 230 |
| 2016 | 195 |
| 2017 | 214 |
| 2018 | 209 |
| 2019 | 172 |
| 2020 | 147 |
| 2021 | 163 |
| 2022 | 179 |
| 2023 | 275 |
| 2024 | 180 |
| 2025 | 225 |
Top 22 institutions for Maternal and Child Health, 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 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 61 | 94% | $11,888 | $36,540 |
| 2 | University at Albany Albany, NYPublicPost-degree cert. | 24 | 61% | — | — |
| 3 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MOPublicMaster's | 21 | 58% | — | — |
| 4 | East Carolina University Greenville, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 20 | 63% | — | $35,628 |
| 5 | National Louis University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 15 | 30% | $18,904 | — |
| 6 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NCPublicDoctoral | 12 | 91% | — | $75,591 |
| 7 | Bank Street College of Education New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 11 | — | — | — |
| 8 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 11 | 96% | $15,315 | — |
| 9 | Bastyr University Kenmore, WAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 9 | — | — | — |
| 10 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicPost-degree cert. | 8 | 84% | — | $39,584 |
| 11 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GAPublicPost-degree cert. | 6 | 53% | — | $34,761 |
| 12 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 5 | 78% | $36,004 | $39,072 |
| 13 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SCPublicPost-degree cert. | 5 | 79% | — | $31,756 |
| 14 | Biola University La Mirada, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 68% | $26,727 | — |
| 15 | University of New Hampshire - Main Campus Durham, NHPublicPost-degree cert. | 3 | 76% | — | — |
| 16 | University of Puerto Rico - Medical Sciences San Juan, PRPublicPost-degree cert. | 3 | — | — | — |
| 17 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MDPublicDoctoral | 2 | 89% | — | $38,273 |
| 18 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 2 | 80% | $24,886 | $33,863 |
| 19 | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock, ARPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | — | — | — |
| 20 | Florida International University Miami, FLPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 74% | — | — |
| 21 | University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NEPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | — | — | — |
| 22 | Temple University Philadelphia, PAPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 75% | — | $43,093 |
* 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 16 states & territories
Where Maternal and Child Health graduates come from. Each state links to all Public Health programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 2 | 63 | Johns Hopkins University61 / yr |
| New York | 3 | 46 | University at Albany24 / yr |
| North Carolina | 2 | 32 | East Carolina University20 / yr |
| Missouri | 2 | 23 | Missouri State University - Springfield21 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 15 | National Louis University15 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 9 | Bastyr University9 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 8 | Texas A&M University - College Station8 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 6 | Drexel University5 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 6 | Georgia State University6 / yr |
| South Carolina | 1 | 5 | University of South Carolina - Columbia5 / yr |
| California | 1 | 3 | Biola University3 / yr |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 3 | University of New Hampshire - Main Campus3 / yr |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 3 | University of Puerto Rico - Medical Sciences3 / yr |
| Arkansas | 1 | 1 | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences1 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 1 | Florida International University1 / yr |
| Nebraska | 1 | 1 | University of Nebraska Medical Center1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 21-1091, Health Education Specialists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Maternal and Child Health program can pursue careers as Health Education Specialists, Community Health Workers, and Health Specialties Teachers. The job outlook is promising, with a growth rate of 4.5% and approximately 7,900 annual openings. The median wage for these roles is around $63,000, typically requiring at least a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.2209
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 |
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 Maternal and Child Health 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 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
- Community Health and Preventive MedicineCIP 51.22083,507 graduates / yr121 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
- 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 degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Postbaccalaureate certificate, Master's degree, or a Bachelor's degree.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, writing, critical thinking, and more.
What types of careers can I pursue?+
You can work as a Health Education Specialist, Community Health Worker, or Health Specialties Teacher.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.5%.
What is the CIP code for Maternal and Child Health?+
Maternal and Child Health is CIP 51.2209 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 focuses on the application of public health specializations, public policy studies, and the social and behavioral sciences to issues of health affecting women, children, and families; and prepares individuals to function as maternal and child health specialists. Includes instruction in research design and testing, program evaluation, public policy analysis, public finance, economics of health care, community health, family development and dynamics, women's studies, social psychology, fetal and child development, biostatistics, health education and promotion, nutrition, neonatal development, psychology, and social services delivery.
How many institutions offer Maternal and Child Health programs?+
22 U.S. institutions reported Maternal and Child Health graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 16 states & territories, awarding 225 credentials in the year. That is 0.5% of all Public Health graduates.
How much do Maternal and Child Health graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Health Education Specialists occupation, which Maternal and Child Health most directly leads to, pays a median of $64,070 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Public Health field report median earnings of $38,273 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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