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Public Health

Colleges offering this major Rankings Trends

What you'll do in college

These majors prepare students for careers in healthcare and the broader health system. Public health majors take epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, health policy, and community health. Health sciences is broader—a flexible pre-health major that often serves as a bridge to medical, dental, PT, or PA school. Pharmacy and pharmacology students dive deep into drug chemistry, dosing, and patient care. Expect long hours and a lot of memorization across all of these tracks.

What you'll do after college

Public health grads work for health departments, hospitals, NGOs, the CDC, or international organizations. Many health science majors continue to medical, dental, PA, or PT school. Pharmacy grads sit for licensing exams and work in retail, hospital, or clinical pharmacy settings. Veterinary science students typically continue to vet school. The work is mission-driven and the field is growing as the population ages.

Selectivity vs. earnings

By acceptance rate

$57,285
801
100–94%
$63,887
1,479
94–89%
$62,018
2,176
89–83%
$63,329
3,095
83–71%
$62,968
3,087
71–49%
$72,717
2,348
49–37%
$62,748
1,428
37–16%
$81,101
803
15–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$59,836
574
400–1050
$59,242
1,160
1060–1120
$61,820
1,687
1120–1170
$63,161
2,282
1170–1270
$70,210
2,326
1280–1350
$68,934
1,758
1350–1410
$71,469
1,068
1410–1470
$81,011
611
1470–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings by acceptance rate and institution category

$52,355p10 $77,099p90 Art & Music Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University 20–30% 10–20% 0–10% Johnson & Wales University - Providence · $55,010 Franklin and Marshall College · $74,848 Muhlenberg College · $30,343 St. Lawrence University · $61,973 Dillard University · $48,590 Austin College · $41,409 Furman University · $67,982 Nazareth University · $45,800 DePauw University · $64,976 Adrian College · $62,166 Allegheny College · $67,620 Gallaudet University · $47,800 American International College · $54,659 Goucher College · $59,870 Carroll College · $46,516 Dordt University · $63,038 Agnes Scott College · $51,921 Ohio Wesleyan University · $63,445 Carroll University · $68,101 Drew University · $57,144 Elizabethtown College · $77,658 Augustana College (IL) · $72,492 Calvin University · $63,191 Juniata College · $67,761 Colby-Sawyer College · $61,290 Loras College · $65,143 Texas Woman's University · $65,002 Taylor University · $64,548 Meredith College · $62,369 Albertus Magnus College · $58,442 St Catherine University · $59,986 Doane University · $56,488 Hood College · $66,090 Saint Anselm College · $71,733 University of the Northwest (Willamette University) · $59,200 Roanoke College · $49,008 Ursinus College · $62,659 Guilford College · $55,593 Wartburg College · $66,063 Schreiner University · $61,472 Simmons University · $77,814 Hope College · $67,558 Keene State College · $62,870 Saint Michael's College · $67,408 Salem College · $55,991 University of the Northwest (Pacific University) · $56,458 Dominican University of California · $85,549 Goshen College · $64,015 Hartwick College · $63,920 Trinity Washington University · $59,338 Hiram College · $61,724 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor · $63,157 Binghamton University · $74,254 San Diego State University · $56,174 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire · $71,776 University of South Florida · $57,525 University of Tennessee, Knoxville · $71,444 University of Washington · $64,437 Purdue University · $70,477 Texas A&M International University · $55,232 University of Maryland, College Park · $76,604 Auburn University · $81,390 Delaware State University · $55,971 Ohio State University · $79,741 Texas A&M University - College Station · $82,849 Cal State Fullerton · $44,683 West Chester University of Pennsylvania · $50,476 Tarleton State University · $69,386 University of West Florida · $57,868 Virginia Tech · $70,119 University of South Carolina · $66,901 New Mexico State University · $47,978 Georgia State University · $48,369 CUNY Lehman College · $56,753 CUNY York College · $76,303 University of Pittsburgh · $67,286 University of Massachusetts - Amherst · $69,412 University of New Mexico · $53,301 State University of New York at Cortland · $62,931 Truman State University · $74,316 College of New Jersey · $80,586 Jackson State University · $57,839 Southern Arkansas University · $60,254 University of North Carolina Wilmington · $58,236 Fresno State · $57,609 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities · $71,122 Eastern Michigan University · $57,096 Rutgers University - New Brunswick · $75,907 University at Albany · $71,097 Lander University · $56,858 University of Michigan - Dearborn · $49,881 University of Texas at Dallas · $66,854 Georgia Southern University · $58,482 Tennessee State University · $63,341 Eastern Illinois University · $59,873 University of Alabama · $62,455 University of Delaware · $71,179 College of Charleston · $54,734 University of Tennessee Southern · $57,171 Worcester State University · $63,452 Wright State University · $62,941 Mississippi University for Women · $42,734 Augusta University · $57,370 University of Vermont · $68,193 Oklahoma State University · $62,102 University of Arkansas · $67,947 Miami University - Ohio · $68,830 University of Michigan - Flint · $60,630 University of Colorado Denver · $58,341 Cal State East Bay · $69,480 Henderson State University · $62,321 University of Louisville · $67,433 University of Illinois Chicago · $65,503 Indiana University · $74,043 SUNY Brockport · $55,116 University of Missouri - Kansas City · $69,815 Rowan University · $60,328 Prairie View A&M University · $60,540 SUNY Old Westbury · $59,498 University of Missouri · $57,103 Winona State University · $68,963 University of Oklahoma - Norman · $90,702 University of North Carolina at Charlotte · $66,790 East Tennessee State University · $59,995 Eastern Kentucky University · $52,355 Middle Tennessee State University · $53,909 Youngstown State University · $61,242 Arkansas State University · $63,510 Saginaw Valley State University · $59,270 Oregon State University · $62,238 Coastal Carolina University · $56,151 Kennesaw State University · $61,129 University of Iowa · $55,274 Cal State Bakersfield · $66,083 Metropolitan State University of Denver · $58,533 Portland State University · $59,368 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania · $64,422 University of Toledo · $69,510 San Jose State University · $68,185 University at Buffalo · $55,763 University of Texas at Arlington · $53,220 SUNY College at Potsdam · $49,228 University of Central Oklahoma · $74,202 University of North Texas · $60,664 Bowling Green State University · $58,822 East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania · $59,921 Eastern Washington University · $57,777 Fairmont State University · $60,490 Indiana University of Pennsylvania · $52,394 Kent State University at Kent · $57,340 Morgan State University · $80,646 Western Michigan University · $65,099 William Paterson University of New Jersey · $69,522 University of Nevada, Reno · $68,254 University of Arizona · $64,923 Mississippi State University · $67,134 Wayne State University · $58,222 Boise State University · $67,780 Indiana University - Indianapolis · $67,870 University of South Carolina, Beaufort · $49,770 Morehead State University · $45,559 Cal State San Bernardino · $58,915 Cal State Stanislaus · $48,477 Central Washington University · $62,027 Emporia State University · $64,027 Fort Lewis College · $47,578 Rhode Island College · $54,114 South Dakota State University · $63,754 Stockton University · $48,111 University of Massachusetts - Lowell · $63,081 West Virginia University · $66,097 Western Connecticut State University · $58,537 University of Southern Maine · $59,144 Bridgewater State University · $59,852 University of California, Riverside · $60,672 Temple University · $66,844 George Mason University · $67,589 University of Nebraska at Omaha · $56,867 Salisbury University · $65,784 Cal State Northridge · $59,180 Georgia College & State University · $78,192 Towson University · $63,567 University of Cincinnati · $53,187 University of Hawaii at Manoa · $51,890 Arizona State University · $58,587 University of Alaska - Anchorage · $79,725 Fitchburg State University · $61,168 Florida Gulf Coast University · $60,965 University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee · $77,395 University of Minnesota - Duluth · $62,800 Montclair State University · $58,772 Oakland University · $81,248 Northern Arizona University · $62,387 University of North Texas at Dallas · $57,318 Cal State Los Angeles · $51,972 Central Michigan University · $73,228 University of Texas at San Antonio · $63,385 University of Wisconsin - Green Bay · $61,006 Chico State · $61,385 Texas State University · $56,139 Old Dominion University · $58,331 University of North Carolina at Greensboro · $55,820 Pennsylvania State University - Lehigh Valley · $80,543 Plymouth State University · $54,553 Utah State University · $105,635 East Carolina University · $64,521 University of Southern Mississippi · $54,048 San Francisco State University · $79,702 University of Northern Iowa · $52,038 University of Memphis · $63,161 University of Kentucky · $69,579 Cal State Sacramento · $62,410 Sam Houston State University · $55,882 Appalachian State University · $53,322 University of Alabama at Birmingham · $63,813 Lewis-Clark State College · $58,971 University of California, Merced · $61,732 Idaho State University · $62,058 University of Mississippi · $67,616 Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville · $54,227 Missouri Western State University · $62,612 University of Texas at El Paso · $51,090 Dine College · $54,578 Langston University · $71,980 New Mexico Highlands University · $52,000 Utah Valley University · $45,489 Weber State University · $48,270 Johnson C. Smith University · $47,437 Santa Clara University · $88,558 Liberty University · $60,132 Loyola University New Orleans · $65,896 Mississippi Christian University · $60,753 Baylor University · $34,950 Charleston Southern University · $56,106 Pacific Union College · $71,316 Creighton University · $78,331 Biola University · $58,509 University of San Francisco · $71,940 Missouri Baptist University · $66,693 Wheaton College (IL) · $63,857 Albright College · $63,002 Merrimack College · $62,607 University of Evansville · $66,522 American University · $64,283 La Sierra University · $55,431 St. John Fisher University · $64,538 Brigham Young University · $60,738 Arcadia University · $66,801 California Baptist University · $58,997 Concordia University - Nebraska · $73,276 Concordia University Wisconsin · $69,293 Ohio Northern University · $66,089 Xavier University of Louisiana · $57,506 Elmhurst University · $65,382 Lewis University · $64,255 Baker University · $66,570 Centenary University · $62,956 Regis College · $62,302 Saint Francis University · $67,478 Shenandoah University · $63,772 Mercer University · $58,218 Saint Louis University · $71,220 University of Holy Cross · $61,628 Loyola University Chicago · $73,157 Baldwin Wallace University · $45,509 University of Jamestown · $66,547 Midway University · $58,118 St. Bonaventure University · $61,338 University of Indianapolis · $63,922 Samford University · $69,626 Immaculata University · $67,274 University of Scranton · $71,743 North Carolina Wesleyan University · $58,881 La Salle University · $60,174 Mount Mercy University · $62,214 Mercyhurst University · $60,399 University of Saint Joseph · $50,192 Siena College · $66,395 Gannon University · $69,543 Rivier University · $60,599 University of Findlay · $69,850 Wingate University · $61,936 Benedict College · $54,506 Duquesne University · $73,675 Concordia University Texas · $63,912 Valparaiso University · $72,899 Gwynedd Mercy University · $71,918 Carlow University · $64,564 Belmont University · $66,716 Brigham Young University - Idaho · $47,037 University of Lynchburg · $53,967 Saint Mary's University of Minnesota · $67,094 Union Adventist University · $69,614 University of Tampa · $58,557 University of Rochester · $57,517 Brandeis University · $82,182 George Washington University · $90,766 Syracuse University · $63,432 Russell Sage College · $62,315 Lindenwood University · $65,188 Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences · $72,505 University of Charleston · $71,809 Elon University · $77,099 Drake University · $68,749 Westminster University · $62,880 Ithaca College · $48,542 Springfield College · $67,405 Bradley University · $71,805 Drexel University · $71,014 Curry College · $62,446 Rider University · $61,561 Butler University · $68,790 MCPHS University · $110,846 Hawaii Pacific University · $60,993 Roger Williams University · $56,176 University of New England · $87,257 Nova Southeastern University · $74,511 Bellevue University · $73,267 National University · $58,584 Lehigh University · $80,725 University of Florida · $67,061 Florida State University · $51,937 University of Texas at Austin · $67,918 CUNY Hunter College · $56,323 University of California, San Diego · $63,636 University of California, Irvine · $62,033 Fairfield University · $74,617 Carleton College · $73,411 Trinity University · $77,924 Pitzer College · $65,884 Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo · $49,654 University of Southern California · $80,601 Washington University in St Louis · $70,300 Tulane University · $90,027 Northeastern University · $79,712 University of Miami · $77,645 University of California, Berkeley · $83,226 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor · $78,456 Georgetown University · $74,154 Boston College · $85,666 Denison University · $72,805 Johns Hopkins University · $80,043 Brown University · $79,636 Cornell University · $79,982 New York University · $73,024 UCLA · $75,325 Art & Music: mean $55,010 Liberal Arts: mean $61,376 Public University: mean $62,454 Religious University: mean $63,646 Private University: mean $69,469 20–30%: mean $65,927 10–20%: mean $79,259 0–10%: mean $77,602 All colleges: p10 $52,355 All colleges: p90 $77,099
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Public Health 364 15,217 18% / 82% 1% $64,241 95%
Public Health 290 12,104 18% / 82% 1% $63,811 95%
Public Health Education and Promotion 40 1,156 15% / 85% 1% $60,242 94%
Public Health Sciences 2 389 8% / 92% 0% $73,592 99%
Health Education and Promotion 2 176 14% / 86% 2% $61,167 95%
Global Health 5 170 22% / 78% 2% $63,879 98%
Population Health 1 143 25% / 75% 1% $58,455 89%
Public Health Studies 1 136 18% / 82% 7% $80,043 97%
Epidemiology 6 123 25% / 75% 2% $66,183 75%
Medical Anthropology and Global Health 1 114 7% / 93% 2% $54,267 100%
Community and Global Public Health 1 111 18% / 82% 1% $78,456 100%
Health Education 17 106 31% / 69% 1% $61,007 96%
International Public Health/International Health 4 83 24% / 76% 2% $74,206 92%
Health Science, Society, and Policy 1 71 30% / 70% 4% $82,182 98%
Public Health Science 1 60 17% / 83% 2% $88,558 100%
International Public Health 9 45 27% / 73% 0% $69,505 96%
Global Health and the Environment 1 44 18% / 82% 0% $70,215 89%
Biology of Global Health 1 38 21% / 79% 0% $76,287 96%
Public and Community Health 1 35 54% / 46% 3% $40,446 79%
Community/Public Health 1 25 12% / 88% 0% $71,873 95%
Environmental Public Health 1 21 24% / 76% 0% $79,741 98%
Global Public Health 2 14 7% / 93% 14% $73,639 88%
Health Care Policy 1 14 57% / 43% 0% $115,717 90%
Health Policy Analysis 5 13 0% / 100% 0% $61,304 92%
Health Policy and Administration 1 7 43% / 57% 0% $80,543 97%
Community Health Promotion 1 6 0% / 100% 0% $71,776 100%
Health Policy 1 5 60% / 40% 0% $62,659
Health Humanities 2 4 0% / 100% 0% $61,764
Health Education and Health Promotion 1 4 25% / 75% 0% $59,633 97%
Community Health Counseling 3 0 $51,201 99%