Best institutions to study Public Health
Any instructional program in public health not listed above.
67 U.S. institutions graduated 2,709 Public Health students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.2299, 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 Public Health programs
Any instructional program in public health not listed above.
See also: 51.0504 - Dental Public Health and Education., 26.1309 - Epidemiology., 44.0503 - Health Policy Analysis.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Public Health program offers a comprehensive education in health professions, focusing on various aspects of public health not categorized elsewhere. This program is ideal for students interested in making a significant impact on community health and wellness through research, policy, and direct service delivery.
Students in the Public Health program develop essential skills such as critical thinking, effective communication, and active listening. Coursework typically covers topics in administration and management, health services, and data management, preparing graduates for diverse roles in the health sector.
Credentials awarded
What Public Health graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree1,488 graduates / yr · 23 institutions55%
- Master's degree777 graduates / yr · 24 institutions29%
- Post-master's certificate171 graduates / yr · 3 institutions6.3%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate157 graduates / yr · 19 institutions5.8%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship60 graduates / yr · 10 institutions2.2%
- Associate's degree24 graduates / yr · 5 institutions0.9%
- Doctor's degree - other16 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.6%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years12 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.4%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year4 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.1%
Graduates over time
Public Health completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,878 |
| 2013 | 1,490 |
| 2014 | 1,932 |
| 2015 | 2,176 |
| 2016 | 2,460 |
| 2017 | 2,764 |
| 2018 | 2,859 |
| 2019 | 2,959 |
| 2020 | 3,181 |
| 2021 | 3,386 |
| 2022 | 3,088 |
| 2023 | 3,123 |
| 2024 | 2,772 |
| 2025 | 2,709 |
Top 50 institutions for Public 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 | George Washington University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 433 | 84% | $29,789 | $44,809 |
| 2 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor's | 348 | 87% | — | $35,463 |
| 3 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MDPublicBachelor's | 329 | 89% | — | $38,273 |
| 4 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 189 | 86% | — | $39,144 |
| 5 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicBachelor'sMaster'sMaster's | 169 | 93% | — | $36,181 |
| 6 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 145 | 96% | $15,315 | — |
| 7 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 104 | 85% | — | — |
| 8 | University of Washington - Bothell Campus Bothell, WAPublicBachelor's | 94 | 65% | — | — |
| 9 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 88 | 93% | — | — |
| 10 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicMaster'sBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 82 | 85% | — | $55,809 |
| 11 | Temple University Philadelphia, PAPublicBachelor's | 80 | 75% | — | $43,093 |
| 12 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicBachelor's | 76 | 80% | — | $42,790 |
| 13 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 52 | 97% | $22,055 | — |
| 14 | Tufts University Medford, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 44 | 94% | $23,570 | $53,372 |
| 15 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 38 | 94% | $11,888 | $36,540 |
| 16 | University of Puerto Rico - Medical Sciences San Juan, PRPublicDoctoralMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 34 | — | — | — |
| 17 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJPublicBachelor's | 31 | 67% | — | — |
| 18 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IAPublicPost-degree cert.Master's | 20 | 75% | — | $35,852 |
| 19 | The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga Chattanooga, TNPublicMaster's | 20 | 50% | — | — |
| 20 | University of South Florida Tampa, FLPublicMaster's | 18 | 77% | — | $33,575 |
| 21 | Itawamba Community College Fulton, MSPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 16 | 50% | — | — |
| 22 | Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 16 | 69% | $26,034 | — |
| 23 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 15 | 89% | $21,956 | — |
| 24 | Henderson State University Arkadelphia, ARPublicBachelor's | 14 | 37% | — | — |
| 25 | Clemson University Clemson, SCPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 14 | 87% | — | — |
| 26 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville, ILPublicMaster's | 13 | 57% | — | $35,023 |
| 27 | Stockton University Galloway, NJPublicBachelor's | 13 | 69% | — | $44,423 |
| 28 | Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 12 | 86% | $33,106 | — |
| 29 | Nazareth University Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 12 | 73% | $27,945 | $46,442 |
| 30 | Benedictine University Lisle, ILPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 11 | 50% | $23,570 | — |
| 31 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OHPublicPost-degree cert. | 11 | 64% | — | $39,159 |
| 32 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, ALPublicMaster's | 10 | 73% | — | $35,698 |
| 33 | Montgomery College Rockville, MDPublicAssociate's | 10 | 32% | — | — |
| 34 | Lehigh University Bethlehem, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 88% | $26,912 | — |
| 35 | Furman University Greenville, SCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 79% | $24,932 | — |
| 36 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicPost-degree cert. | 9 | 81% | — | — |
| 37 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KSPublicMaster's | 8 | 69% | — | — |
| 38 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 94% | $14,126 | — |
| 39 | Shenandoah University Winchester, VAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 67% | $27,455 | — |
| 40 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 7 | 85% | — | $46,016 |
| 41 | San Diego State University San Diego, CAPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 6 | 76% | — | $41,092 |
| 42 | Middlesex Community College Bedford, MAPublicAssociate's | 6 | 23% | — | — |
| 43 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center New York, NYPublicMaster's | 6 | — | — | — |
| 44 | Washington State University Pullman, WAPublicPost-degree cert. | 6 | 60% | — | — |
| 45 | University of Evansville Evansville, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 64% | $19,593 | — |
| 46 | Northeastern University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 5 | 91% | $18,925 | — |
| 47 | University at Albany Albany, NYPublicPost-degree cert. | 5 | 61% | — | — |
| 48 | George Mason University Fairfax, VAPublicDoctoral | 5 | 68% | — | $37,025 |
| 49 | Ohio University - Main Campus Athens, OHPublicPost-degree cert. | 4 | 65% | — | $37,883 |
| 50 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 4 | 78% | $36,004 | $39,072 |
* 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 29 states & territories
Where Public Health 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 Public Health program can pursue careers as Medical and Health Services Managers or Health Specialties Teachers in postsecondary education. The field is experiencing much faster than average growth, with an expected 62,100 annual job openings and a median wage of $117,960, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.2299
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 |
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 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
- Community Health and Preventive MedicineCIP 51.22083,507 graduates / yr121 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 can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Post-master's certificate, or Postbaccalaureate certificate.
How many colleges offer this program?+
There are 67 colleges in the U.S. offering the Public Health program.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, critical thinking, writing, and active listening.
What is the job outlook for public health graduates?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 23.2%.
What is the CIP code for Public Health?+
Public Health is CIP 51.2299 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Public Health (CIP 51.22). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in public health not listed above.
How many institutions offer Public Health programs?+
67 U.S. institutions reported Public Health graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 29 states & territories, awarding 2,709 credentials in the year. That is 6.6% of all Public Health graduates.
How much do Public Health graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Medical and Health Services Managers occupation, which Public Health 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 $39,159 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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