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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

$58,747
748
100–92%
$58,167
1,501
92–85%
$59,511
2,219
85–76%
$59,303
3,014
76–69%
$61,749
2,995
69–52%
$59,339
2,434
52–37%
$63,986
1,324
35–14%
$75,993
755
14–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$59,659
530
400–1050
$55,799
1,144
1060–1120
$60,541
1,733
1120–1170
$58,581
1,919
1170–1270
$62,665
2,290
1270–1340
$63,766
1,900
1340–1410
$66,774
980
1410–1470
$77,817
588
1470–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings vs. selectivity rank

$50,487p10 $71,408p90 Arts Female-only Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University Public University 1–15 Private University 1–30 Johnson & Wales University - Providence · $53,800 Meredith College · $54,668 Agnes Scott College · $51,924 Alverno College · $56,522 St Catherine University · $58,663 Simmons University · $65,944 Salem College · $53,982 Trinity Washington University · $56,964 Denison University · $69,002 Trinity University · $69,724 Franklin and Marshall College · $74,872 Muhlenberg College · $30,349 St. Lawrence University · $61,652 Dillard University · $50,487 Furman University · $60,370 Austin College · $41,410 Allegheny College · $65,302 Nazareth University · $45,800 DePauw University · $62,682 American International College · $55,822 Carroll College · $46,516 Dordt University · $61,644 Gallaudet University · $47,360 Carroll University · $66,471 Drew University · $60,527 Elizabethtown College · $71,025 Hope College · $59,356 Augustana College (IL) · $60,263 Colby-Sawyer College · $56,501 Taylor University · $62,806 Albertus Magnus College · $55,632 Calvin University · $61,079 Doane University · $45,973 Hood College · $57,830 Saint Anselm College · $69,345 Willamette University · $60,239 Roanoke College · $56,766 Ursinus College · $60,309 Guilford College · $49,871 Keene State College · $51,924 Wartburg College · $60,644 Schreiner University · $56,763 Saint Michael's College · $54,902 Pacific University · $59,109 Dominican University of California · $72,378 Goshen College · $60,413 Hartwick College · $58,970 Hiram College · $58,671 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor · $57,621 CUNY Hunter College · $56,204 University of California, Irvine · $56,892 Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo · $60,316 Binghamton University · $70,573 San Diego State University · $53,081 Cal State Los Angeles · $49,690 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire · $66,799 University of South Florida · $51,913 University of Washington · $58,102 Delaware State University · $56,490 Morgan State University · $80,027 University of North Carolina Wilmington · $55,572 University of Maryland, College Park · $63,356 Auburn University · $76,623 Salisbury University · $58,947 University of Tennessee, Knoxville · $72,770 Ohio State University · $70,803 Texas A&M University - College Station · $70,906 Cal State Fullerton · $44,683 West Chester University of Pennsylvania · $71,347 University of West Florida · $54,452 Texas A&M International University · $56,005 Virginia Tech · $70,122 University of South Carolina · $57,326 New Mexico State University · $51,574 Tarleton State University · $54,495 CUNY Lehman College · $56,676 CUNY York College · $53,898 Georgia State University · $48,370 University of Pittsburgh · $67,050 University of Massachusetts - Amherst · $63,629 University of New Mexico · $60,128 State University of New York at Cortland · $59,657 Truman State University · $62,406 College of New Jersey · $61,634 Southern Arkansas University · $58,850 Appalachian State University · $52,195 Central Michigan University · $73,230 Eastern Michigan University · $57,905 Oklahoma State University · $61,454 Rutgers University - New Brunswick · $68,993 University at Albany · $65,544 Lander University · $53,963 University of Alaska - Anchorage · $50,313 University of Michigan - Dearborn · $61,693 Tennessee State University · $53,123 Texas State University · $55,531 University at Buffalo · $55,763 Eastern Illinois University · $55,730 University of Alabama · $54,410 College of Charleston · $55,003 Cal State Sacramento · $58,503 East Carolina University · $58,292 George Mason University · $62,806 Georgia Southern University · $50,894 Montclair State University · $51,201 Morehead State University · $50,876 Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville · $47,818 Temple University · $56,105 University of Alabama at Birmingham · $52,948 University of Colorado Denver · $57,088 University of Delaware · $63,145 University of Memphis · $64,160 University of North Carolina at Greensboro · $51,926 University of Oklahoma - Norman · $90,703 University of Southern Maine · $56,373 University of Tennessee Southern · $57,760 University of Texas at Arlington · $53,221 Wright State University · $61,343 Mississippi University for Women · $43,354 Augusta University · $54,337 University of Vermont · $58,466 Miami University - Ohio · $58,394 University of Michigan - Flint · $66,522 Cal State East Bay · $73,318 Henderson State University · $52,496 Oregon State University · $57,552 University of Arkansas · $58,286 University of Louisville · $60,369 University of Mississippi · $63,108 University of Illinois Chicago · $56,789 Indiana University · $73,148 SUNY Brockport · $51,756 University of Missouri - Kansas City · $67,094 Rowan University · $61,367 SUNY Old Westbury · $57,176 University of Missouri · $57,105 Winona State University · $50,612 University of North Carolina at Charlotte · $65,635 Chico State · $61,385 East Tennessee State University · $59,004 Eastern Kentucky University · $47,088 Fitchburg State University · $59,548 Middle Tennessee State University · $51,044 Youngstown State University · $59,714 Saginaw Valley State University · $61,242 Coastal Carolina University · $54,429 Kennesaw State University · $61,130 University of Iowa · $55,277 Cal State Bakersfield · $59,211 Metropolitan State University of Denver · $52,933 Portland State University · $51,557 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania · $56,321 University of Minnesota - Duluth · $61,436 University of Toledo · $69,513 San Jose State University · $68,185 SUNY College at Potsdam · $53,336 University of Central Oklahoma · $71,196 University of North Texas · $54,212 Bowling Green State University · $58,725 East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania · $52,052 Eastern Washington University · $57,521 Fairmont State University · $59,807 Indiana University of Pennsylvania · $54,976 Kent State University at Kent · $51,883 Southern Connecticut State University · $55,168 Western Michigan University · $62,000 William Paterson University of New Jersey · $59,994 University of Nevada, Reno · $68,254 Mississippi State University · $62,021 Wayne State University · $55,081 Boise State University · $67,782 Indiana University - Indianapolis · $58,026 University of South Carolina, Beaufort · $49,773 Cal State San Bernardino · $58,915 Cal State Stanislaus · $63,954 Central Washington University · $50,903 Emporia State University · $53,237 Fort Lewis College · $46,666 South Dakota State University · $59,824 Stockton University · $53,268 University of Arizona · $57,874 University of Cincinnati · $53,188 University of Massachusetts - Lowell · $59,812 West Virginia University · $66,103 Western Connecticut State University · $48,870 Bridgewater State University · $54,387 University of Nebraska at Omaha · $53,973 Arizona State University · $55,339 Cal State Northridge · $55,218 Georgia College & State University · $56,429 Towson University · $62,247 University of Hawaii at Manoa · $51,255 Florida Gulf Coast University · $55,966 University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee · $77,396 Northern Arizona University · $57,858 University of Kentucky · $63,060 University of North Texas at Dallas · $55,510 University of Texas at San Antonio · $63,121 University of Wisconsin - Green Bay · $58,116 Old Dominion University · $59,754 Pennsylvania State University - Lehigh Valley · $74,085 Plymouth State University · $38,898 University of Southern Mississippi · $39,178 San Francisco State University · $79,702 Utah State University · $76,576 University of Northern Iowa · $58,120 Idaho State University · $56,660 Lewis-Clark State College · $55,536 University of Texas at El Paso · $41,719 University of California, Merced · $52,316 Sam Houston State University · $52,654 Missouri Western State University · $61,629 Dine College · $53,210 Langston University · $69,899 New Mexico Highlands University · $47,935 Utah Valley University · $46,824 Weber State University · $55,561 Boston College · $77,688 Fairfield University · $73,936 Mississippi Christian University · $58,560 Johnson C. Smith University · $43,442 Xavier University of Louisiana · $67,135 Santa Clara University · $58,199 Saint Louis University · $64,792 Liberty University · $57,877 Loyola University New Orleans · $64,948 Baylor University · $34,950 Charleston Southern University · $56,190 Creighton University · $78,331 Biola University · $58,113 Missouri Baptist University · $57,402 Wheaton College (IL) · $58,654 Merrimack College · $60,076 University of Evansville · $66,848 American University · $64,023 La Sierra University · $51,296 St. John Fisher University · $63,052 Arcadia University · $61,979 California Baptist University · $55,269 Concordia University - Nebraska · $73,276 Brigham Young University · $66,423 Concordia University Wisconsin · $63,898 Ohio Northern University · $64,718 Elmhurst University · $59,956 Baker University · $64,122 Centenary University · $55,367 Regis College · $58,430 Saint Francis University · $66,887 Shenandoah University · $63,776 Mercer University · $62,731 University of Holy Cross · $63,848 Loyola University Chicago · $73,158 Baldwin Wallace University · $45,534 University of Jamestown · $61,957 Midway University · $61,599 St. Bonaventure University · $59,046 University of Indianapolis · $46,630 University of Saint Joseph · $50,191 University of Scranton · $71,408 La Salle University · $50,470 Mount Mercy University · $62,026 Mercyhurst University · $56,939 Siena College · $66,108 Gannon University · $75,248 Rivier University · $67,889 Samford University · $71,061 University of Findlay · $64,535 Wingate University · $55,123 Benedict College · $37,877 Duquesne University · $78,531 Concordia University Texas · $60,728 Valparaiso University · $68,344 Gwynedd Mercy University · $70,510 Carlow University · $60,174 Belmont University · $59,277 Brigham Young University - Idaho · $44,973 University of Lynchburg · $58,579 Saint Mary's University of Minnesota · $70,794 Union Adventist University · $63,637 University of Miami · $70,261 Syracuse University · $67,142 University of Tampa · $56,226 University of Rochester · $70,532 Brandeis University · $63,807 George Washington University · $70,358 Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences · $66,333 Elon University · $70,317 Hawaii Pacific University · $67,065 Bradley University · $62,502 Westminster University · $52,669 University of Charleston · $62,146 MCPHS University · $110,846 Roger Williams University · $56,170 University of New England · $87,257 Russell Sage College · $61,235 Lindenwood University · $65,190 Springfield College · $63,735 Ithaca College · $47,720 Curry College · $60,884 Rider University · $56,833 Drexel University · $70,791 Keystone College · $49,420 Nova Southeastern University · $74,511 West Coast University - Orange County · $75,633 University of California, Berkeley · $71,391 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor · $78,458 University of Florida · $66,009 Purdue University · $58,941 University of Texas at Austin · $68,978 Florida State University · $56,708 University of California, San Diego · $59,677 Brown University · $79,845 Johns Hopkins University · $85,455 Georgetown University · $67,981 Cornell University · $75,441 Washington University in St Louis · $74,208 University of Southern California · $71,963 New York University · $63,728 Tulane University · $79,428 Northeastern University · $77,237 Lehigh University · $70,963 Arts: mean $53,800 Female-only: mean $56,952 Liberal Arts: mean $58,253 Public University: mean $58,582 Religious University: mean $61,428 Private University: mean $66,383 Public University 1–15: mean $65,737 Private University 1–30: mean $74,625 All colleges: p10 $50,487 All colleges: p90 $71,408
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Public Health 370 15,237 18% / 82% 1% $60,632 95%
Public Health 296 12,231 18% / 82% 1% $60,380 95%
Public Health Education and Promotion 45 1,158 15% / 85% 1% $57,932 93%
Public Health Sciences 2 389 8% / 92% 0% $65,366 100%
Health Education and Promotion 2 176 14% / 86% 2% $59,884 95%
Global Health 5 170 22% / 78% 2% $61,711 98%
Population Health 1 143 25% / 75% 1% $54,514 91%
Public Health Studies 1 136 18% / 82% 7% $85,455 97%
Epidemiology 6 123 25% / 75% 2% $63,839 90%
Medical Anthropology and Global Health 1 114 7% / 93% 2% $54,267 100%
Health Education 19 110 32% / 68% 1% $55,823 94%
International Public Health/International Health 4 83 24% / 76% 2% $68,989 92%
Health Science, Society, and Policy 1 71 30% / 70% 4% $63,807 89%
Public Health Science 1 60 17% / 83% 2% $58,199 95%
International Public Health 9 45 27% / 73% 0% $64,618 96%
Global Health and the Environment 1 44 18% / 82% 0% $73,741 96%
Biology of Global Health 1 38 21% / 79% 0% $67,513 88%
Public and Community Health 1 32 56% / 44% 0% $51,236
Community/Public Health 1 25 12% / 88% 0% $68,051 94%
Environmental Public Health 1 21 24% / 76% 0% $70,803 94%
Global Public Health 2 14 7% / 93% 14% $67,150 96%
Health Care Policy 1 14 57% / 43% 0% $102,419 98%
Health Policy Analysis 5 13 0% / 100% 0% $58,824
Health Policy and Administration 1 7 43% / 57% 0% $74,085 93%
Community Health Promotion 1 6 0% / 100% 0% $66,799 100%
Health Policy 1 5 60% / 40% 0% $60,309
Health Humanities 2 4 0% / 100% 0% $62,792
Health Education and Health Promotion 1 4 25% / 75% 0% $61,895 99%
Health Promotion and Education 1 1 0% / 100% 0% $52,040 100%