Best institutions to study Public Health Education and Promotion
A program that focuses on the application of educational and communications principles and methods to the promotion of preventive health measures and the education of targeted populations on health issues, and prepares individuals to function as public health educators and health promotion specialists.
157 U.S. institutions graduated 3,740 Public Health Education and Promotion students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.2207, a specialization of Public Health (CIP 51.22), and leads most directly to the Health Education Specialists occupation (BLS SOC 21-1091).
About Public Health Education and Promotion programs
A program that focuses on the application of educational and communications principles and methods to the promotion of preventive health measures and the education of targeted populations on health issues, and prepares individuals to function as public health educators and health promotion specialists. Includes instruction in human development, health issues across the life span, population-specific health issues, principles and methods of public health education, administration of health education campaigns and programs, evaluation methods, public communications, and applications to specific public health subjects and issues.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Public Health Education and Promotion program focuses on applying educational and communication principles to promote preventive health measures. It prepares individuals to serve as public health educators and health promotion specialists, targeting specific populations to address health issues. This program is ideal for students interested in making a positive impact on community health through education and advocacy.
Students will gain core skills in speaking, writing, and critical thinking, along with knowledge in public safety, psychology, and education. Coursework includes developing health education materials, administering health campaigns, and evaluating public health programs.
Credentials awarded
What Public Health Education and Promotion graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree2,348 graduates / yr · 94 institutions63%
- Master's degree675 graduates / yr · 47 institutions18%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate237 graduates / yr · 20 institutions6.3%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year224 graduates / yr · 8 institutions6.0%
- Associate's degree125 graduates / yr · 9 institutions3.3%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship100 graduates / yr · 16 institutions2.7%
- Post-master's certificate26 graduates / yr · 4 institutions0.7%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years5 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Public Health Education and Promotion completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2,747 |
| 2013 | 3,300 |
| 2014 | 3,454 |
| 2015 | 3,456 |
| 2016 | 3,975 |
| 2017 | 4,232 |
| 2018 | 4,251 |
| 2019 | 4,562 |
| 2020 | 4,444 |
| 2021 | 4,523 |
| 2022 | 4,106 |
| 2023 | 4,065 |
| 2024 | 3,758 |
| 2025 | 3,740 |
Top 50 institutions for Public Health Education and Promotion, 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 yearBachelor's | 296 | 55% | $6,760 | $30,128 |
| 2 | East Carolina University Greenville, NCPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert.Master'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 222 | 63% | — | $35,628 |
| 3 | University of Delaware Newark, DEPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 137 | 81% | — | $35,437 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NCPublicBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert.Doctoral | 135 | 56% | — | $42,239 |
| 5 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicPost-degree cert.Doctoral | 125 | 83% | — | — |
| 6 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 124 | 90% | — | $39,534 |
| 7 | College of Charleston Charleston, SCPublicBachelor's | 119 | 66% | — | $31,848 |
| 8 | University of Michigan - Dearborn Dearborn, MIPublicBachelor's | 96 | 58% | — | — |
| 9 | Temple University Philadelphia, PAPublicBachelor's | 93 | 75% | — | $43,093 |
| 10 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 76 | 81% | $13,712 | $29,025 |
| 11 | California State University - Stanislaus Turlock, CAPublicBachelor's | 68 | 53% | — | — |
| 12 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 68 | 89% | $21,956 | — |
| 13 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicMaster'sMaster'sDoctoral | 60 | 93% | — | $36,181 |
| 14 | CUNY Lehman College Bronx, NYPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 60 | 51% | — | $41,255 |
| 15 | Widener University Chester, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 58 | 68% | $29,049 | — |
| 16 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 56 | 89% | — | $35,761 |
| 17 | Coastal Carolina University Conway, SCPublicBachelor's | 54 | 48% | — | $29,862 |
| 18 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Houston, TXPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 54 | — | — | — |
| 19 | New Mexico State University - Main Campus Las Cruces, NMPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 53 | 55% | — | $27,729 |
| 20 | Dine College Tsaile, AZPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 51 | 13% | — | — |
| 21 | Walden University Minneapolis, MNPrivate for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 50 | — | — | $44,285 |
| 22 | Saginaw Valley State University University Center, MIPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 47 | 48% | — | — |
| 23 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 44 | 65% | $28,911 | $36,641 |
| 24 | Northampton County Area Community College Bethlehem, PAPublicAssociate's | 43 | 24% | — | — |
| 25 | Western Connecticut State University Danbury, CTPublicBachelor's | 41 | 52% | — | — |
| 26 | Lehigh University Bethlehem, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 41 | 88% | $26,912 | — |
| 27 | Emporia State University Emporia, KSPublicBachelor's | 37 | 56% | — | $31,547 |
| 28 | Tufts University Medford, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 36 | 94% | $23,570 | $53,372 |
| 29 | University of Mississippi University, MSPublicBachelor's | 35 | 72% | — | — |
| 30 | University of New Mexico - Main Campus Albuquerque, NMPublicBachelor's | 33 | 55% | — | — |
| 31 | Morgan State University Baltimore, MDPublicBachelor's | 31 | 41% | — | — |
| 32 | Purdue University Global West Lafayette, INPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 31 | 50% | — | — |
| 33 | Mississippi University for Women Columbus, MSPublicBachelor's | 30 | 47% | — | $26,553 |
| 34 | University of South Carolina Beaufort Bluffton, SCPublicBachelor's | 30 | 34% | — | $33,628 |
| 35 | Elon University Elon, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 29 | 84% | $33,688 | $42,088 |
| 36 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OKPublicBachelor's | 28 | 68% | — | $38,852 |
| 37 | University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville, NCPublicBachelor's | 27 | 54% | — | $27,913 |
| 38 | University of Minnesota - Duluth Duluth, MNPublicBachelor's | 26 | 65% | — | $36,520 |
| 39 | North Carolina Central University Durham, NCPublicBachelor's | 26 | 42% | — | $38,198 |
| 40 | Loma Linda University Loma Linda, CAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 25 | — | — | — |
| 41 | Winona State University Winona, MNPublicBachelor's | 25 | 57% | — | $46,250 |
| 42 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SCPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 25 | 79% | — | $31,756 |
| 43 | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College New York, NYPublicAssociate's | 24 | 25% | — | — |
| 44 | Texas State University San Marcos, TXPublicMaster's | 24 | 55% | — | $35,564 |
| 45 | University of the Ozarks Clarksville, ARPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 23 | 51% | $13,608 | $32,564 |
| 46 | Lander University Greenwood, SCPublicBachelor's | 23 | 50% | — | — |
| 47 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZPublicBachelor's | 23 | 0% | — | $41,061 |
| 48 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville, ILPublicBachelor's | 22 | 57% | — | $35,023 |
| 49 | University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OKPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 22 | 37% | — | $49,560 |
| 50 | Oregon Health & Science University Portland, ORPublicMaster's | 22 | — | — | — |
* 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 45 states & territories
Where Public Health Education and Promotion graduates come from. Each state links to all Public Health programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 21-1091, Health Education Specialists, and its national outlook.
Graduates can pursue careers as Health Education Specialists, Community Health Workers, or Health Specialties Teachers. The job outlook for these roles is about as fast as average, with an expected growth of 4.5% and approximately 7,900 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is around $63,000, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.2207
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 Public Health Education and Promotion 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
- 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
- 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 are offered in this program?+
The program offers Bachelor's and Master's degrees, as well as postbaccalaureate certificates.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, writing, critical thinking, and active listening.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as a Health Education Specialist, Community Health Worker, or Health Specialties Teacher.
What is the job outlook for public health educators?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.5% and around 7,900 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Public Health Education and Promotion?+
Public Health Education and Promotion is CIP 51.2207 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 educational and communications principles and methods to the promotion of preventive health measures and the education of targeted populations on health issues, and prepares individuals to function as public health educators and health promotion specialists. Includes instruction in human development, health issues across the life span, population-specific health issues, principles and methods of public health education, administration of health education campaigns and programs, evaluation methods, public communications, and applications to specific public health subjects and issues.
How many institutions offer Public Health Education and Promotion programs?+
157 U.S. institutions reported Public Health Education and Promotion graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 45 states & territories, awarding 3,740 credentials in the year. That is 9.1% of all Public Health graduates.
How much do Public Health Education and Promotion graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Health Education Specialists occupation, which Public Health Education and Promotion 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 $36,690 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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