Best Colleges for Public Health

Public health graduates play a critical role in protecting community wellness and preventing disease outbreaks. With 162 schools nationwide offering this major, students have numerous options to pursue this meaningful career path. The average starting salary of $34,262 reflects the public service nature of many entry-level positions, though earnings typically increase with experience and advanced degrees.

When evaluating public health programs, students should prioritize accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health, hands-on fieldwork opportunities, and faculty expertise in areas like epidemiology and environmental health. Strong programs also offer internships with local health departments and research opportunities that prepare graduates for roles in government agencies, nonprofits, and healthcare organizations.

Schools Ranked

$44,053

Avg. Program Earnings

68.6%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	Montana Technological University Butte, Montana	$64,344	58.1%	public
2	Oakland University Rochester Hills, Michigan	$55,512	56.9%	public
3	Illinois State University Normal, Illinois	$50,439	66.3%	public
4	Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, Colorado	$47,260	66.9%	public
5	West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, Pennsylvania	$47,260	69.8%	public
6	Walden University Minneapolis, Minnesota	$46,087		private-forprofit
7	University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, Oklahoma	$44,216	37.5%	public
8	University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire, Wisconsin	$44,189	67.6%	public
9	George Washington University Washington, District of Columbia	$42,682	85.2%	private-nonprofit
10	Georgetown University Washington, District of Columbia	$42,682	94.3%	private-nonprofit
11	St Petersburg College St. Petersburg, Florida	$42,682	37.5%	public
12	Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland	$42,682	94.6%	private-nonprofit
13	Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, Indiana	$42,510	81.2%	public
14	American Public University System Charles Town, West Virginia	$42,309	53.2%	private-forprofit
15	Boise State University Boise, Idaho	$42,188	61.9%	public
16	Tufts University Medford, Massachusetts	$41,937	93.3%	private-nonprofit
17	New York University New York, New York	$41,193	88.5%	private-nonprofit
18	Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, Michigan	$41,007	61.8%	public
19	Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, Arizona	$40,792	56.9%	public
20	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, Illinois	$40,253	84.9%	public
21	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California	$40,140	92.9%	public
22	University of Maryland-College Park College Park, Maryland	$39,909	88.6%	public
23	National University San Diego, California	$39,729	50.0%	private-nonprofit
24	Missouri Southern State University Joplin, Missouri	$39,729	38.3%	public
25	CUNY Hunter College New York, New York	$39,585	61.0%	public