Public Health: earnings, debt, and careers
CIP 51.22. Official graduate outcomes from the U.S. Department of Education across 1,807 programs, and the careers this field is linked to.
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate certificate | 144 | 1,586 | $42,865 | $53,933 | $18,250 9 programs |
| Associate's degree | 143 | 744 | $36,417 | $43,759 | $20,000 23 programs |
| Bachelor's degree | 577 | 17,902 | $42,733 | $58,808 | $23,724 262 programs |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 35 | 0 | $72,922 | $78,697 | $22,470 4 programs |
| Master's degree | 517 | 16,686 | $66,557 | $82,751 | Data unavailable |
| Doctoral degree | 135 | 1,177 | $94,259 | $108,962 | Data unavailable |
| Professional degree (JD, MD, and similar) | 25 | 72 | $86,328 | $101,541 | Data unavailable |
| Graduate certificate | 231 | 2,334 | $70,425 | $88,684 | Data unavailable |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Undergraduate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Iowa IA · Public · 25 graduates measured | $46,113 | Data unavailable | $24,750 |
| Michigan State University MI · Public · 38 graduates measured | $41,687 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Albany NY · Private, nonprofit · 20 graduates measured | $39,213 | $36,698 | $18,250 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Syracuse North NY · Private, nonprofit · 20 graduates measured | $39,213 | $36,698 | $18,250 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Buffalo NY · Private, nonprofit · 20 graduates measured | $39,213 | $36,698 | $18,250 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Parma OH · Private, nonprofit · 20 graduates measured | $39,213 | $36,698 | $18,250 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach VA · Private, nonprofit · 20 graduates measured | $39,213 | $36,698 | $18,250 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa WI · Private, nonprofit · 20 graduates measured | $39,213 | $36,698 | $18,250 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Online NY · Private, nonprofit · 20 graduates measured | $39,213 | $36,698 | $18,250 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Associate's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg Area Community College PA · Public · 22 graduates measured | $41,727 | $50,630 | $19,139 |
| Ozarks Technical Community College MO · Public · 18 graduates measured | $40,813 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale FL · Private, nonprofit · 94 graduates measured | $38,036 | $44,350 | $35,425 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Albany NY · Private, nonprofit · 101 graduates measured | $37,907 | $43,403 | $30,117 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Syracuse North NY · Private, nonprofit · 101 graduates measured | $37,907 | $43,403 | $30,117 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Buffalo NY · Private, nonprofit · 101 graduates measured | $37,907 | $43,403 | $30,117 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Parma OH · Private, nonprofit · 101 graduates measured | $37,907 | $43,403 | $30,117 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach VA · Private, nonprofit · 101 graduates measured | $37,907 | $43,403 | $30,117 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa WI · Private, nonprofit · 101 graduates measured | $37,907 | $43,403 | $30,117 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Online NY · Private, nonprofit · 101 graduates measured | $37,907 | $43,403 | $30,117 |
| American Public University System WV · Private, for-profit · 32 graduates measured | $37,102 | $39,409 | $20,441 |
| Coalinga College CA · Public · 96 graduates measured | $36,036 | $46,372 | Data unavailable |
| Lemoore College CA · Public · 94 graduates measured | $35,598 | $49,765 | $9,500 |
| Florida National University-Main Campus FL · Private, for-profit · 25 graduates measured | $34,043 | $45,001 | $22,568 |
| CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College NY · Public · 40 graduates measured | $32,815 | $40,539 | $8,500 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Bachelor's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center TX · Public · 18 graduates measured | $117,531 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Bentley University MA · Private, nonprofit · 18 graduates measured | $78,149 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Utah State University UT · Public · 19 graduates measured | $77,239 | $93,161 | Data unavailable |
| Oakland University MI · Public · 27 graduates measured | $75,782 | $85,266 | $22,000 |
| Illinois State University IL · Public · 32 graduates measured | $72,984 | $84,790 | $14,316 |
| Tacoma Community College WA · Public · 17 graduates measured | $71,299 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Walden University MN · Private, for-profit · 30 graduates measured | $64,877 | $63,061 | $48,967 |
| University of Central Oklahoma OK · Public · 85 graduates measured | $58,438 | $67,452 | $14,125 |
| University of California-Berkeley CA · Public · 120 graduates measured | $57,363 | $76,572 | $11,000 |
| Baylor University TX · Private, nonprofit · 22 graduates measured | $57,091 | Data unavailable | $21,587 |
| National University CA · Private, nonprofit · 49 graduates measured | $56,313 | $70,340 | $37,875 |
| George Washington University DC · Private, nonprofit · 66 graduates measured | $55,305 | $87,217 | $19,558 |
| Bowling Green State University-Main Campus OH · Public · 49 graduates measured | $54,779 | $56,114 | $27,750 |
| American Public University System WV · Private, for-profit · 86 graduates measured | $54,702 | $59,240 | $17,750 |
| Tufts University MA · Private, nonprofit · 39 graduates measured | $54,429 | $75,448 | $16,500 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Post-baccalaureate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill NC · Public · 17 graduates measured | $94,895 | $77,776 | Data unavailable |
| A T Still University of Health Sciences MO · Private, nonprofit · 36 graduates measured | $82,595 | Data unavailable | $21,000 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus PA · Public · 26 graduates measured | $66,946 | $77,434 | $21,940 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI · Public · 28 graduates measured | $66,780 | $83,042 | $23,000 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Master's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcadia University PA · Private, nonprofit · 39 graduates measured | $116,045 | $116,631 | Data unavailable |
| Touro University California CA · Private, nonprofit · 101 graduates measured | $110,594 | $143,582 | Data unavailable |
| University of Wyoming WY · Public · 28 graduates measured | $109,671 | $101,385 | Data unavailable |
| Vanderbilt University TN · Private, nonprofit · 67 graduates measured | $108,218 | $166,705 | Data unavailable |
| Montana Technological University MT · Public · 38 graduates measured | $106,252 | $108,351 | Data unavailable |
| Harvard University MA · Private, nonprofit · 125 graduates measured | $104,048 | $153,029 | Data unavailable |
| Concordia University Ann Arbor MI · Private, nonprofit · 38 graduates measured | $94,236 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin WI · Private, nonprofit · 38 graduates measured | $94,236 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of California-Los Angeles CA · Public · 233 graduates measured | $90,289 | $110,900 | Data unavailable |
| University of Rochester NY · Private, nonprofit · 25 graduates measured | $86,765 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus NJ · Private, nonprofit · 22 graduates measured | $83,496 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus NJ · Private, nonprofit · 22 graduates measured | $83,496 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Weber State University UT · Public · 64 graduates measured | $83,203 | $104,668 | Data unavailable |
| Augusta University GA · Public · 23 graduates measured | $81,123 | $89,528 | Data unavailable |
| University of San Francisco CA · Private, nonprofit · 90 graduates measured | $80,381 | $90,920 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Doctoral degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego State University CA · Public · 16 graduates measured | $131,791 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Illinois Chicago IL · Public · 24 graduates measured | $130,813 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Georgia GA · Public · 25 graduates measured | $116,560 | $105,864 | Data unavailable |
| University of California-Los Angeles CA · Public · 23 graduates measured | $116,009 | $119,898 | Data unavailable |
| University of South Florida FL · Public · 33 graduates measured | $115,908 | $113,870 | Data unavailable |
| Johns Hopkins University MD · Private, nonprofit · 56 graduates measured | $94,671 | $114,631 | Data unavailable |
| Georgia Southern University GA · Public · 32 graduates measured | $90,493 | $95,128 | Data unavailable |
| Walden University MN · Private, for-profit · 179 graduates measured | $90,261 | $108,951 | Data unavailable |
| Capella University MN · Private, for-profit · 102 graduates measured | $90,031 | $105,140 | Data unavailable |
| University of Arizona AZ · Public · 17 graduates measured | $89,479 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI · Public · 18 graduates measured | $89,216 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Cincinnati-Main Campus OH · Public · 16 graduates measured | $74,830 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Professional degree (JD, MD, and similar) programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-Berkeley CA · Public · 205 graduates measured | $88,809 | $109,806 | Data unavailable |
| Dartmouth College NH · Private, nonprofit · 47 graduates measured | $76,671 | $116,416 | Data unavailable |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus PA · Public · 40 graduates measured | $71,333 | $77,992 | Data unavailable |
| University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center OK · Public · 17 graduates measured | $66,835 | $73,749 | Data unavailable |
| University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus OK · Public · 17 graduates measured | $66,835 | $73,749 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Graduate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham AL · Public · 41 graduates measured | $114,467 | $140,663 | Data unavailable |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus CO · Public · 18 graduates measured | $83,026 | $73,319 | Data unavailable |
| Columbia University in the City of New York NY · Private, nonprofit · 272 graduates measured | $76,457 | $99,797 | Data unavailable |
| Capella University MN · Private, for-profit · 17 graduates measured | $73,588 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Johns Hopkins University MD · Private, nonprofit · 220 graduates measured | $72,808 | $95,664 | Data unavailable |
| University of Missouri-Columbia MO · Public · 30 graduates measured | $71,499 | $81,684 | Data unavailable |
| University of Connecticut CT · Public · 162 graduates measured | $69,987 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus CT · Public · 162 graduates measured | $69,987 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Connecticut-Avery Point CT · Public · 162 graduates measured | $69,987 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Connecticut-Stamford CT · Public · 162 graduates measured | $69,987 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus CT · Public · 162 graduates measured | $69,987 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Tulane University of Louisiana LA · Private, nonprofit · 36 graduates measured | $57,618 | $55,423 | Data unavailable |
| University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center OK · Public · 23 graduates measured | $56,800 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus OK · Public · 23 graduates measured | $56,800 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University at Albany NY · Public · 38 graduates measured | $56,269 | $74,144 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Public Health
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical and health services managers | $123,860 | +24.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Compliance officers | $80,730 | +3.8% | Bachelor's degree |
| Epidemiologists | $87,220 | +18.7% | Master's degree |
| Medical scientists, except epidemiologists | $103,410 | +12.6% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Physicists | $172,250 | +7.2% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Environmental scientists and specialists, including health | $82,220 | +6.1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Occupational health and safety specialists | $90,150 | +18.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Occupational health and safety technicians | $61,560 | +19.4% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Health education specialists | $64,070 | +5.6% | Bachelor's degree |
| Community health workers | $51,850 | +12.7% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Physics teachers, postsecondary | $100,310 | +2.4% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Health specialties teachers, postsecondary | $107,310 | +17.9% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Genetic counselors | $100,040 | +10.4% | Master's degree |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (13)
- 51.2201 Public Health, General
- 51.2202 Environmental Health
- 51.2205 Health/Medical Physics
- 51.2206 Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene
- 51.2207 Public Health Education and Promotion
- 51.2208 Community Health and Preventive Medicine
- 51.2209 Maternal and Child Health
- 51.2210 International Public Health/International Health
- 51.2211 Health Services Administration
- 51.2212 Behavioral Aspects of Health
- 51.2213 Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality
- 51.2214 Public Health Genetics
- 51.2299 Public Health, Other