by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 81 U.S. colleges awarded 1,560 degrees and certificates in Health Education. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 52% of graduates. College Factual ranks 31 schools in its 2027 Best Health Education Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $50,000 one year after completing, rising to $58,727 after four years.
Studying Health Education covers Health Teacher Education. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Health Education Programs At Various Educational Levels.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, health education is a popular field of study, with 1,560 degrees awarded annually. 81 colleges award health education degrees, an average of 19 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 341.
By level, the 1,560 awards include 39 associate degrees, 808 bachelor’s degrees, 684 master’s degrees and 29 doctorates.
Women earned 61% of health education degrees and certificates in the latest year (947 of 1,560). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (947) and Hispanic or Latino (199), and international students earned 39.
College Factual ranks 31 schools in its 2027 Best Health Education Schools ranking, including 24 for bachelor’s degrees and 19 for master’s degrees. It also ranks health education schools within 14 states. In all, 81 colleges offer health education programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Health Education Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common health education credential is the bachelor’s degree: 808 of the 1,560 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to health education call most for Speaking, Instructing and Learning Strategies, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Psychology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Speech Clarity and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a health education degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 39 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 808 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 684 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 29 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to health education, at 47.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 47.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 34.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7.2% |
| Master’s degree | 6.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Health Education, with an average median salary of $86,454; the strongest outlook belongs to Education Teachers, Postsecondary, at 2.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Educator, Education Adjunct Professor, Counselor Education Professor and Adjunct Instructor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to health education, at 1,441,246.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
Health Education graduates earn a median $50,000 one year after completing their program, $58,727 after four years and $56,439 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $50,000 |
| 4 years | $58,727 |
| 5 years | $56,439 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to health education, with a median salary of $98,329.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
Health Education has 37 similar majors in the Education field, which together award 38,835 degrees a year; the largest are Physical Education Teaching and Coaching (7,130), Reading Teacher Education (6,129) and Music Teacher Education (4,149). Browse all Education majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 7,130 |
| Reading Teacher Education | 6,129 |
| Music Teacher Education | 4,149 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 3,405 |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education | 2,933 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other | 2,470 |
| Social Studies Teacher Education | 2,020 |
| Art Teacher Education | 1,898 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education | 1,054 |
| Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education | 1,048 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
