by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 121 U.S. colleges awarded 3,539 degrees and certificates in Community Health and Preventive Medicine. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 49% of graduates. College Factual ranks 52 schools in its 2027 Best Community Health and Preventive Medicine Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $51,160 one year after completing, rising to $70,680 after four years.
Studying Community Health and Preventive Medicine covers Community Health And Preventive Medicine. A Program That Prepares Public Health Specialists To Plan And Manage Health Services In Local Community Settings, Including The Coordination Of Related Support Services, Government Agencies, And Private Resources. Includes Instruction In Public Health, Community Health Services And Delivery, Health Behavior And Cultural Factors, Local Government Operations, Human Services, Health Communication And Promotion, Health Services Administration In Local Settings, Environmental Health, Preventive And Comparative Medicine, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Family And Community Health, And Applicable Law And Regulations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, community health and preventive medicine is a popular field of study, with 3,539 degrees awarded annually. 121 colleges award community health and preventive medicine degrees, an average of 29 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 892.
By level, the 3,539 awards include 79 certificates, 50 associate degrees, 1,561 bachelor’s degrees, 1,730 master’s degrees and 38 doctorates.
Women earned 80% of community health and preventive medicine degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,826 of 3,539). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,201) and Hispanic or Latino (593), and international students earned 59.
College Factual ranks 52 schools in its 2027 Best Community Health and Preventive Medicine Schools ranking, including 1 for associate degrees, 33 for bachelor’s degrees, 26 for master’s degrees and 3 for doctorates. It also ranks community health and preventive medicine schools within 24 states. In all, 121 colleges offer community health and preventive medicine programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Community Health and Preventive Medicine Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common community health and preventive medicine credential is the master’s degree: 1,730 of the 3,539 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to community health and preventive medicine call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Medicine and Dentistry, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a community health and preventive medicine degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 79 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 50 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,561 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,730 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 38 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to community health and preventive medicine, at 30.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 30.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 25.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 16.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 13.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.8% |
| Some college courses | 1.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Community Health and Preventive Medicine, with an average median salary of $83,374; the strongest outlook belongs to Community Health Workers, at 13.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Childbirth Teacher, Therapy Teacher, Oxygen Therapy Teacher and Speech Pathology Teacher.
The occupation related to community health and preventive medicine with the most projected jobs is Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,335,407.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 419,330 | 8.8% |
| Community Health Workers | 300,538 | 13.4% |
Community Health and Preventive Medicine graduates earn a median $51,160 one year after completing their program, $70,680 after four years and $71,212 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $51,160 |
| 4 years | $70,680 |
| 5 years | $71,212 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to community health and preventive medicine is Medical and Health Services Managers, with a median salary of $129,557.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Community Health Workers | $73,901 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Community Health and Preventive Medicine has 11 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 38,194 degrees a year; the largest are Public Health, General (24,834), Public Health Education and Promotion (3,767) and Public Health, Other (2,750). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Health, General | 24,834 |
| Public Health Education and Promotion | 3,767 |
| Public Health, Other | 2,750 |
| Health Services Administration | 2,283 |
| International Public Health/International Health | 1,529 |
| Environmental Health | 1,309 |
| Behavioral Aspects of Health | 759 |
| Health/Medical Physics | 334 |
| Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene | 300 |
| Maternal and Child Health | 225 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
