by our College Data Analytics TeamHealth Communication was the 674th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 410 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 20.7% increase in health communication degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 325.
This year's Best Health Communication Schools ranking compares 27 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of health communication programs later in this article.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times has been highlighted as one of the most essential skills for careers related to health communication. Required skills include talking to others to convey information effectively and communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most health communication degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional health communication certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are various different levels of health communication degrees. Health Communication programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest health communication degree you can get. The type of health communication degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to health communication, with approximately 43.6% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to health communication tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 46.2% |
| Master’s Degree | 24.6% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 19.2% |
| Doctoral Degree | 4.4% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 2.6% |
75.6% of health communication workers have at least a bachelor's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in health communication have received.
This of course varies depending on which health communication career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your health communication degree? Health Communication careers are expected to grow 10.4% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to health communication.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialists | 282,600 | 8.9% |
| Community Health Workers | 67,800 | 17.9% |
| Communications Professors | 37,500 | 10.0% |
As you might expect, salaries for health communication graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for health communication graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers health communication grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Communications Professors | $78,090 |
| Public Relations Specialists | $68,440 |
| Community Health Workers | $43,480 |
With over 94 different health communication degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased health communication school rankings to help you with this.
Health Communication is one of 10 different types of Public Relations & Advertising programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Relations | 5,216 |
| Advertising | 4,918 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication | 4,203 |
| General Organizational Communication | 2,013 |
| Other Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication | 1,553 |
Image Credit: By Bill Koplitz under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
