by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 18 U.S. colleges awarded 141 degrees and certificates in Health Professions Education. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 86% of graduates. College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Health Professions Education Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $90,296 one year after completing, rising to $98,461 after four years.
A degree in Health Professions Education involves the study of A Program That Focuses On Education And Administration Leadership Skills For Clinical Educators Across Health Professions And Specialties. Includes Instruction In Academic Leadership, Assessment, Clinical Decision Making, Curriculum Development, Ethics, Primary Care Education, Program Evaluation, Research Methods, And Statistics. Examples: [Teaching Certificate For Pharmacists], [Medical Education Teaching].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, health professions education is a widely-pursued major, with 141 degrees awarded annually. 18 colleges award health professions education degrees, an average of 8 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 31.
By level, the 141 awards include 121 master’s degrees and 20 doctorates.
Women earned 79% of health professions education degrees and certificates in the latest year (111 of 141). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (99) and Black or African American (18), and international students earned 8.
College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Health Professions Education Schools ranking, including 2 for doctorates. In all, 18 colleges offer health professions education programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Health Professions Education Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common health professions education credential is the master’s degree: 121 of the 141 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to health professions education call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Instructing, 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 Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a health professions education degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 121 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 20 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to health professions education, at 57.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 57.9% |
| Master’s degree | 23.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 6.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Health Professions Education, with an average median salary of $102,306; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Associate Professor, Professor, Lecturer and College Professor.
The occupation related to health professions education with the most projected jobs is Education Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,441,246.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | 237,062 | -1.7% |
Health Professions Education graduates earn a median $90,296 one year after completing their program, $98,461 after four years and $100,667 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $90,296 |
| 4 years | $98,461 |
| 5 years | $100,667 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to health professions education is Education Administrators, Postsecondary, with a median salary of $161,927.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $161,927 |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Health Professions Education has 5 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 5,348 degrees a year; the largest are Nursing Education (3,970), Bioethics/Medical Ethics (813) and Medical/Health Humanities (421). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Nursing Education | 3,970 |
| Bioethics/Medical Ethics | 813 |
| Medical/Health Humanities | 421 |
| Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities, Other | 138 |
| Arts in Medicine/Health | 6 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
