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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

$59,727
1,457
100–88%
$58,375
2,993
88–75%
$59,652
2,983
75–68%
$60,287
2,961
68–50%
$63,305
2,981
49–29%
$71,499
1,431
28–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$52,492
1,024
400–1090
$56,512
2,021
1100–1180
$59,627
2,086
1180–1270
$60,926
2,011
1270–1340
$66,201
2,077
1340–1430
$73,296
1,048
1450–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings vs. selectivity rank

$48,921p10 $71,281p90 Arts Female-only Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University Public University 1–25 Private University 21–40 Private University 1–20 Johnson & Wales University - Providence · $52,626 Agnes Scott College · $51,452 Meredith College · $54,044 Wesleyan College · $54,200 Alverno College · $53,026 St Catherine University · $59,427 Simmons University · $70,608 Salem College · $51,698 Trinity Washington University · $60,437 Denison University · $60,700 Trinity University · $67,443 Pitzer College · $59,613 Muhlenberg College · $30,305 St. Lawrence University · $60,229 Dillard University · $46,580 Austin College · $39,895 DePauw University · $62,887 Furman University · $60,360 Allegheny College · $63,303 Nazareth University · $46,894 Carroll College · $44,705 Dordt University · $56,156 Carroll University · $63,762 Drew University · $61,258 Elizabethtown College · $64,131 Hope College · $58,864 Willamette University · $59,910 Augustana College (IL) · $57,611 Colby-Sawyer College · $59,512 Taylor University · $57,344 Albertus Magnus College · $57,546 Calvin University · $59,449 Luther College · $50,675 Doane University · $41,739 Hood College · $62,170 Saint Anselm College · $67,021 Roanoke College · $58,167 Guilford College · $48,921 Keene State College · $54,045 Ursinus College · $55,897 Wartburg College · $54,553 Schreiner University · $57,689 Saint Michael's College · $55,683 Pacific University · $62,105 Dominican University of California · $76,961 Goshen College · $57,119 Hiram College · $55,891 Hartwick College · $60,804 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor · $55,234 CUNY Hunter College · $61,477 University of California, Irvine · $64,449 Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo · $64,332 University of South Florida · $53,182 Binghamton University · $68,362 San Diego State University · $59,686 Cal State Los Angeles · $56,290 College of New Jersey · $65,388 University of Washington · $63,854 Delaware State University · $55,503 Morgan State University · $83,423 University of North Carolina Wilmington · $53,609 Salisbury University · $57,965 San Jose State University · $76,170 Cal State Fullerton · $50,618 West Chester University of Pennsylvania · $71,841 Texas A&M International University · $51,896 University of South Carolina · $55,090 New Mexico State University · $46,471 Tarleton State University · $52,521 CUNY Lehman College · $62,041 CUNY York College · $60,362 Georgia State University · $47,918 University of Pittsburgh · $65,805 Mississippi State University · $55,086 University of Massachusetts - Amherst · $66,020 University of New Mexico · $56,220 State University of New York at Cortland · $62,533 Truman State University · $58,954 Southern Arkansas University · $50,051 Wayne State University · $54,196 Appalachian State University · $48,531 Central Michigan University · $70,016 Eastern Michigan University · $57,087 Oklahoma State University · $56,343 University at Albany · $66,859 Lander University · $50,173 University of Alaska - Anchorage · $52,180 University of Michigan - Dearborn · $61,256 Tennessee State University · $50,764 Texas State University · $54,371 University at Buffalo · $56,788 Cal State Sacramento · $63,551 East Carolina University · $54,333 Eastern Illinois University · $53,628 George Mason University · $64,933 Georgia Southern University · $49,403 Montclair State University · $56,721 Morehead State University · $46,297 Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville · $46,699 Temple University · $56,494 University of Alabama at Birmingham · $49,691 University of Colorado Denver · $57,222 University of Delaware · $63,636 University of Memphis · $59,405 University of North Carolina at Greensboro · $49,076 University of Northern Iowa · $51,036 University of Oklahoma - Norman · $83,289 University of Southern Maine · $58,365 University of Tennessee Southern · $52,400 University of Texas at Arlington · $53,712 Wright State University · $56,116 Augusta University · $50,555 College of Charleston · $54,405 University of Vermont · $58,632 Miami University - Ohio · $55,816 University of Michigan - Flint · $62,975 Cal State East Bay · $75,568 Henderson State University · $46,675 Old Dominion University · $59,631 Oregon State University · $60,183 University of Alabama · $50,556 University of Arkansas · $51,977 University of Louisville · $54,936 University of Mississippi · $56,351 Boise State University · $66,870 Indiana University · $69,107 SUNY Brockport · $52,858 University of Missouri - Kansas City · $60,633 SUNY Old Westbury · $59,094 University of Missouri · $53,457 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire · $63,000 Winona State University · $48,643 Chico State · $65,742 East Tennessee State University · $53,377 Eastern Kentucky University · $43,295 Fitchburg State University · $56,974 Middle Tennessee State University · $48,323 Northern Arizona University · $58,640 Saginaw Valley State University · $56,919 University of North Carolina at Charlotte · $63,365 Youngstown State University · $53,657 Coastal Carolina University · $52,470 University of Illinois Chicago · $57,431 Cal State Bakersfield · $63,483 Metropolitan State University of Denver · $59,031 Portland State University · $54,207 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania · $55,275 University of Minnesota - Duluth · $58,446 University of Toledo · $65,237 SUNY College at Potsdam · $54,642 University of Central Oklahoma · $65,006 University of North Texas · $56,907 Bowling Green State University · $54,992 East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania · $51,977 Eastern Washington University · $59,344 Fairmont State University · $54,844 Indiana University of Pennsylvania · $53,613 Kennesaw State University · $60,432 Kent State University at Kent · $48,967 Southern Connecticut State University · $57,386 University of Iowa · $51,985 Western Michigan University · $59,666 William Paterson University of New Jersey · $66,462 Indiana University - Indianapolis · $55,049 Rowan University · $62,359 University of South Carolina, Beaufort · $48,761 Cal State San Bernardino · $64,642 Cal State Stanislaus · $67,110 Central Washington University · $55,484 Emporia State University · $47,913 Fort Lewis College · $46,873 South Dakota State University · $55,751 Stockton University · $56,345 University of Arizona · $58,292 University of Cincinnati · $50,950 University of Massachusetts - Lowell · $64,120 University of Nevada, Reno · $67,576 West Virginia University · $63,590 Western Connecticut State University · $51,330 Bridgewater State University · $56,907 University of Nebraska at Omaha · $49,091 Arizona State University · $56,438 Cal State Northridge · $61,716 Georgia College & State University · $53,175 Towson University · $64,626 University of Hawaii at Manoa · $55,244 Florida Gulf Coast University · $57,743 University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee · $74,201 University of Kentucky · $57,980 University of North Texas at Dallas · $52,055 University of Texas at San Antonio · $60,870 University of Wisconsin - Green Bay · $55,515 Pennsylvania State University - Lehigh Valley · $73,837 Plymouth State University · $40,843 University of Southern Mississippi · $34,209 San Francisco State University · $91,104 Utah State University · $77,541 Lewis-Clark State College · $50,267 University of Texas at El Paso · $39,473 Sam Houston State University · $49,951 University of California, Merced · $55,265 Dine College · $53,514 Georgia Military College · $56,319 Langston University · $60,055 Missouri Western State University · $53,925 New Mexico Highlands University · $45,243 Southwestern Oklahoma State University · $63,516 Utah Valley University · $47,461 Weber State University · $54,810 Boston College · $75,904 Brigham Young University · $65,444 Santa Clara University · $65,015 Fairfield University · $73,465 Mississippi Christian University · $50,222 Johnson C. Smith University · $40,177 Xavier University of Louisiana · $61,940 Saint Louis University · $60,833 Liberty University · $56,943 Baylor University · $33,489 Loyola University New Orleans · $59,928 Charleston Southern University · $53,689 Andrews University · $63,550 Creighton University · $71,246 Biola University · $62,512 Missouri Baptist University · $48,808 Wheaton College (IL) · $56,854 University of Evansville · $63,648 University of Scranton · $69,824 American University · $67,737 Arcadia University · $62,449 California Baptist University · $62,697 Concordia University - Nebraska · $66,528 Concordia University Wisconsin · $59,781 Elmhurst University · $59,065 St. John Fisher University · $62,398 Baker University · $58,852 Centenary University · $56,930 Regis College · $62,563 Saint Francis University · $63,186 Shenandoah University · $63,571 Loyola University Chicago · $74,043 Mercer University · $59,193 Baldwin Wallace University · $43,196 University of Jamestown · $56,665 Midway University · $52,904 St. Bonaventure University · $60,073 University of Indianapolis · $44,185 University of Saint Joseph · $51,770 University of Mount Union · $49,855 La Salle University · $50,820 Mount Mercy University · $55,793 Mercyhurst University · $55,196 Siena College · $63,456 Duquesne University · $71,629 Gannon University · $66,032 Rivier University · $71,506 Samford University · $67,153 University of Findlay · $53,261 Wingate University · $54,229 Benedict College · $36,575 Concordia University Texas · $58,183 Gwynedd Mercy University · $67,549 Carlow University · $57,762 Valparaiso University · $63,760 Belmont University · $56,976 Brigham Young University - Idaho · $44,368 University of Lynchburg · $56,786 Saint Mary's University of Minnesota · $63,818 Union Adventist University · $60,513 Syracuse University · $68,380 University of Tampa · $57,601 Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences · $65,163 American International College · $57,080 Gallaudet University · $47,560 Elon University · $66,620 Hawaii Pacific University · $66,773 Merrimack College · $62,436 Bradley University · $61,053 University of Charleston · $57,259 MCPHS University · $118,686 Roger Williams University · $57,872 University of New England · $87,412 Russell Sage College · $61,649 Lindenwood University · $61,206 Westminster University · $52,380 Springfield College · $64,263 Ithaca College · $51,150 Curry College · $62,760 Rider University · $56,250 Drexel University · $71,281 Keystone College · $48,169 Nova Southeastern University · $81,275 West Coast University - Orange County · $77,708 University of California, Berkeley · $81,604 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor · $77,349 University of Florida · $66,251 Purdue University · $56,455 University of Maryland, College Park · $67,437 University of Texas at Austin · $67,931 Rutgers University - New Brunswick · $73,195 Texas A&M University - College Station · $67,119 Florida State University · $57,175 Auburn University · $70,747 University of Tennessee, Knoxville · $67,519 Virginia Tech · $69,382 University of California, San Diego · $67,103 Ohio State University · $67,625 Washington University in St Louis · $69,734 New York University · $69,423 University of Southern California · $81,522 University of Miami · $72,503 Lehigh University · $70,821 Northeastern University · $75,400 Tulane University · $73,281 University of Rochester · $71,673 George Washington University · $74,440 Franklin and Marshall College · $74,350 Brandeis University · $68,486 Johns Hopkins University · $89,081 Brown University · $76,971 Cornell University · $75,853 Georgetown University · $70,872 Arts: mean $52,626 Female-only: mean $56,862 Liberal Arts: mean $56,828 Public University: mean $57,467 Religious University: mean $59,108 Private University: mean $65,083 Public University 1–25: mean $68,349 Private University 21–40: mean $72,876 Private University 1–20: mean $78,194 All colleges: p10 $48,921 All colleges: p90 $71,281
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Public Health 344 14,806 18% / 82% 2% $59,926 95%
Public Health 268 11,785 18% / 82% 2% $59,689 95%
Public Health Education and Promotion 42 1,145 15% / 85% 1% $56,789 93%
Public Health Sciences 2 405 12% / 88% 0% $63,526 100%
Health Education and Promotion 2 168 14% / 86% 2% $60,018 95%
Population Health 1 164 26% / 74% 0% $55,479 91%
Health Education 19 156 35% / 65% 1% $53,261 94%
Global Health 5 156 19% / 81% 6% $62,592 98%
Epidemiology 6 153 24% / 76% 1% $61,855 90%
Medical Anthropology and Global Health 1 127 13% / 87% 3% $59,730 100%
Public Health Studies 1 108 31% / 69% 6% $89,081 97%
Health Science, Society, and Policy 1 70 23% / 77% 0% $68,486 89%
International Public Health/International Health 4 68 15% / 85% 3% $69,458 92%
Global Health and the Environment 1 46 20% / 80% 2% $69,598 96%
International Public Health 6 44 34% / 66% 2% $62,986 96%
Biology of Global Health 1 38 13% / 87% 5% $69,171 88%
Public and Community Health 1 33 64% / 36% 3% $53,581
Public Health Science 1 32 22% / 78% 6% $65,015 95%
Environmental Public Health 1 31 42% / 58% 0% $67,625 94%
Community/Public Health 1 25 24% / 76% 0% $59,774 94%
Health Policy Analysis 4 11 36% / 64% 0% $54,887
Health Care Policy 1 10 20% / 80% 0% $107,508 98%
Community Health Promotion 1 8 38% / 62% 0% $63,000 100%
Health Humanities 2 7 14% / 86% 0% $57,812
Health Policy and Administration 1 5 20% / 80% 0% $73,837 93%
Health Education and Health Promotion 1 4 25% / 75% 0% $62,990 99%
Health Promotion and Education 1 4 0% / 100% 0% $47,446 100%
Global Public Health 2 2 0% / 100% 0% $68,892 96%
Health Policy 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $55,897