Best institutions to study Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene
A program that prepares public health specialists to monitor and evaluate health and related safety standards in industrial, commercial, and government workplaces and facilities.
27 U.S. institutions graduated 300 Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.2206, a specialization of Public Health (CIP 51.22), and leads most directly to the Occupational Health and Safety Specialists occupation (BLS SOC 19-5011).
About Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene programs
A program that prepares public health specialists to monitor and evaluate health and related safety standards in industrial, commercial, and government workplaces and facilities. Includes instruction in occupational health and safety standards and regulations; health-related aspects of various occupations and work environments; health hazard testing and evaluation; test equipment operation and maintenance; industrial toxicology; worker health and safety education; and the analysis and testing of job-related equipment, behavior practices, and protective devices and procedures.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene program prepares students to become public health specialists who focus on monitoring and evaluating health and safety standards in various workplaces, including industrial, commercial, and government settings. This program is ideal for individuals interested in ensuring worker safety and health through rigorous evaluation of occupational environments.
Students will gain knowledge in occupational health and safety standards, industrial toxicology, and health hazard testing. Core skills include active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication, equipping graduates to develop and maintain hygiene programs and ensure compliance with safety regulations.
Credentials awarded
What Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year105 graduates / yr · 6 institutions35%
- Master's degree102 graduates / yr · 10 institutions34%
- Bachelor's degree72 graduates / yr · 9 institutions24%
- Post-master's certificate12 graduates / yr · 3 institutions4.0%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate7 graduates / yr · 4 institutions2.3%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship2 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.7%
Graduates over time
Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 250 |
| 2013 | 252 |
| 2014 | 335 |
| 2015 | 308 |
| 2016 | 318 |
| 2017 | 292 |
| 2018 | 280 |
| 2019 | 334 |
| 2020 | 276 |
| 2021 | 211 |
| 2022 | 258 |
| 2023 | 261 |
| 2024 | 313 |
| 2025 | 300 |
Top 27 institutions for Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, 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 | 78 | 55% | $6,760 | $30,128 |
| 2 | Montana Technological University Butte, MTPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 49 | 58% | — | $74,771 |
| 3 | University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OKPublicBachelor's | 26 | 37% | — | $49,560 |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Whitewater, WIPublicMaster's | 21 | 59% | — | — |
| 5 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 17 | 65% | — | $37,068 |
| 6 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicMaster's | 16 | 84% | — | $39,584 |
| 7 | Illinois State University Normal, ILPublicBachelor's | 13 | 65% | — | $59,207 |
| 8 | Ohio University - Main Campus Athens, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 65% | — | $37,883 |
| 9 | Athens State University Athens, ALPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | — | — | — |
| 10 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 56% | — | — |
| 11 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, NCPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 8 | 57% | — | $58,660 |
| 12 | Regis University Denver, COPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 7 | 61% | $22,407 | — |
| 13 | University of Puerto Rico - Medical Sciences San Juan, PRPublicMaster's | 7 | — | — | — |
| 14 | Oakland University Rochester Hills, MIPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 5 | 58% | — | $59,330 |
| 15 | Ocean County College Toms River, NJPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 42% | — | — |
| 16 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City, SDPublicMaster's | 4 | 53% | — | — |
| 17 | University of Houston - Clear Lake Houston, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 3 | 52% | — | — |
| 18 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro, ARPublicBachelor's | 2 | 55% | — | — |
| 19 | Capitol Technology University Laurel, MDPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 2 | 43% | $27,179 | — |
| 20 | Hudson Valley Community College Troy, NYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 35% | — | — |
| 21 | University of Toledo Toledo, OHPublicMaster's | 2 | 57% | — | — |
| 22 | University of North Alabama Florence, ALPublicBachelor's | 1 | 55% | — | — |
| 23 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IAPublicMaster's | 1 | 75% | — | $35,852 |
| 24 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KYPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 50% | — | $35,612 |
| 25 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 94% | $11,888 | $36,540 |
| 26 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicDoctoral | 1 | 75% | — | $32,685 |
| 27 | University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center Oklahoma City, OKPublicDoctoral | 1 | — | — | — |
* 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 20 states & territories
Where Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene graduates come from. Each state links to all Public Health programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 1 | 78 | Brigham Young University - Idaho78 / yr |
| Montana | 1 | 49 | Montana Technological University49 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 2 | 27 | University of Central Oklahoma26 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 21 | University of Wisconsin - Whitewater21 / yr |
| Texas | 2 | 19 | Texas A&M University - College Station16 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 17 | University of Utah17 / yr |
| Ohio | 3 | 13 | Ohio University - Main Campus10 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 13 | Illinois State University13 / yr |
| Alabama | 2 | 10 | Athens State University9 / yr |
| Kentucky | 2 | 9 | Western Kentucky University8 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 8 | North Carolina A & T State University8 / yr |
| Colorado | 1 | 7 | Regis University7 / yr |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 7 | University of Puerto Rico - Medical Sciences7 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 5 | Oakland University5 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 5 | Ocean County College5 / yr |
| South Dakota | 1 | 4 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology4 / yr |
| Maryland | 2 | 3 | Capitol Technology University2 / yr |
| Arkansas | 1 | 2 | Arkansas State University2 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 2 | Hudson Valley Community College2 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 1 | University of Iowa1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-5011, Occupational Health and Safety Specialists, and its national outlook.
Graduates can pursue careers as Occupational Health and Safety Specialists, with a job outlook that is much faster than average, featuring a growth rate of 12.5% and approximately 14,900 annual openings. The median wage for these professionals is $83,910, typically requiring a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.2206
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Occupational Health and Safety Specialistsprimary SOC 19-5011 | $90,150 | +12.5% Much faster than average | ~14,900 | Bachelor's degree |
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1071 | $107,310 | +17.3% Much faster than average | ~27,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians SOC 19-5012 | $61,560 | +8.5% Much faster than average | ~3,400 | 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 Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene 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
- Recommend measures to help protect workers from potentially hazardous work methods, processes, or materials.
- Develop or maintain hygiene programs, such as noise surveys, continuous atmosphere monitoring, ventilation surveys, or asbestos management plans.
- Order suspension of activities that pose threats to workers' health or safety.
- Investigate accidents to identify causes or to determine how such accidents might be prevented in the future.
- Inspect or evaluate workplace environments, equipment, or practices to ensure compliance with safety standards and government regulations.
- Collect samples of dust, gases, vapors, or other potentially toxic materials for analysis.
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 - 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 types of degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a bachelor's degree, master's degree, post-master's certificate, 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 active listening, critical thinking, writing, and monitoring, essential for evaluating workplace safety.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist, Health Specialties Teacher, or Occupational Health and Safety Technician.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 12.5% and about 14,900 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene?+
Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene is CIP 51.2206 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 monitor and evaluate health and related safety standards in industrial, commercial, and government workplaces and facilities. Includes instruction in occupational health and safety standards and regulations; health-related aspects of various occupations and work environments; health hazard testing and evaluation; test equipment operation and maintenance; industrial toxicology; worker health and safety education; and the analysis and testing of job-related equipment, behavior practices, and protective devices and procedures.
How many institutions offer Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene programs?+
27 U.S. institutions reported Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 20 states & territories, awarding 300 credentials in the year. That is 0.7% of all Public Health graduates.
How much do Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Occupational Health and Safety Specialists occupation, which Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene most directly leads to, pays a median of $90,150 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Public Health field report median earnings of $37,883 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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