Best institutions to study Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality
A program that focuses on the application of transformative mechanisms and evidence-based protocols to reduce preventable patient harm and improve clinical outcomes.
9 U.S. institutions graduated 104 Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.2213, 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 Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality programs
A program that focuses on the application of transformative mechanisms and evidence-based protocols to reduce preventable patient harm and improve clinical outcomes. Includes instruction in healthcare quality, patient safety, research methods, program evaluation, epidemiology, legal and regulatory compliance, systems thinking, human factors engineering, and risk management.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality program, part of the Public Health field, focuses on reducing preventable patient harm and enhancing clinical outcomes. This program is designed for individuals interested in improving healthcare systems through evidence-based protocols and transformative mechanisms. It is ideal for those looking to make a significant impact in the healthcare industry.
Students will gain essential skills in healthcare quality, patient safety, research methods, and risk management. Coursework covers topics such as epidemiology, legal compliance, systems thinking, and human factors engineering, equipping graduates with the knowledge needed to address complex healthcare challenges.
Credentials awarded
What Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Postbaccalaureate certificate70 graduates / yr · 8 institutions67%
- Master's degree34 graduates / yr · 3 institutions33%
Graduates over time
Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 57 |
| 2021 | 43 |
| 2022 | 125 |
| 2023 | 87 |
| 2024 | 121 |
| 2025 | 104 |
CIP 51.2213 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 9 institutions for Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality, 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 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, ALPublicPost-degree cert.Master's | 77 | 64% | — | $32,187 |
| 2 | Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert.Master's | 11 | 69% | $26,034 | — |
| 3 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KYPublicPost-degree cert. | 6 | 50% | — | $35,612 |
| 4 | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock, ARPublicPost-degree cert. | 3 | — | — | — |
| 5 | Drake University Des Moines, IAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 3 | 74% | $28,855 | — |
| 6 | Saginaw Valley State University University Center, MIPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 48% | — | — |
| 7 | University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NEPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | — | — | — |
| 8 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 78% | $36,004 | $39,072 |
| 9 | Robert Morris University Moon Township, PAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 1 | 66% | $24,175 | — |
* 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 7 states
Where Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality graduates come from. Each state links to all Public Health programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 | 77 | University of Alabama at Birmingham77 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | 13 | Thomas Jefferson University11 / yr |
| Kentucky | 1 | 6 | Eastern Kentucky University6 / yr |
| Arkansas | 1 | 3 | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences3 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 3 | Drake University3 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | Saginaw Valley State University1 / yr |
| Nebraska | 1 | 1 | University of Nebraska Medical Center1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-5011, Occupational Health and Safety Specialists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Occupational Health and Safety Specialists, Medical and Health Services Managers, and Compliance Officers, among others. The job outlook is promising, with a projected growth rate of 12.5% and approximately 14,900 annual openings. The median wage for these roles is around $83,910, typically requiring at least a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.2213
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 |
Medical and Health Services Managers SOC 11-9111 | $123,860 | +23.2% Much faster than average | ~62,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Compliance Officers SOC 13-1041 | $80,730 | +3.0% About as fast as average | ~33,300 | 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 Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality 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 - Occupational Health and Industrial HygieneCIP 51.2206300 graduates / yr27 institutions
- Maternal and Child HealthCIP 51.2209225 graduates / yr22 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 credentials can I earn from this program?+
You can earn a Postbaccalaureate certificate or a Master's degree.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 9 colleges offering this program across the U.S.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What is the typical career path for graduates?+
Graduates often work in roles related to occupational health and safety, healthcare management, and compliance.
What is the CIP code for Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality?+
Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality is CIP 51.2213 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 transformative mechanisms and evidence-based protocols to reduce preventable patient harm and improve clinical outcomes. Includes instruction in healthcare quality, patient safety, research methods, program evaluation, epidemiology, legal and regulatory compliance, systems thinking, human factors engineering, and risk management.
How many institutions offer Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality programs?+
9 U.S. institutions reported Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 7 states, awarding 104 credentials in the year. That is 0.3% of all Public Health graduates.
How much do Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Occupational Health and Safety Specialists occupation, which Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality 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 $35,612 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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