by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 22 U.S. colleges awarded 225 degrees and certificates in Maternal and Child Health. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 87% of graduates. College Factual ranks 8 schools in its 2027 Best Maternal and Child Health 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.
A major in Maternal and Child Health covers Maternal And Child Health. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Public Health Specializations, Public Policy Studies, And The Social And Behavioral Sciences To Issues Of Health Affecting Women, Children, And Families; And Prepares Individuals To Function As Maternal And Child Health Specialists. Includes Instruction In Research Design And Testing, Program Evaluation, Public Policy Analysis, Public Finance, Economics Of Health Care, Community Health, Family Development And Dynamics, Women's Studies, Social Psychology, Fetal And Child Development, Biostatistics, Health Education And Promotion, Nutrition, Neonatal Development, Psychology, And Social Services Delivery.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., maternal and child health is a widely-pursued major, with 225 degrees awarded annually. 22 colleges award maternal and child health degrees, an average of 10 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 61.
By level, the 225 awards include 15 bachelor’s degrees, 196 master’s degrees and 14 doctorates.
Women earned 94% of maternal and child health degrees and certificates in the latest year (211 of 225). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (88) and Black or African American (45), and international students earned 22.
College Factual ranks 8 schools in its 2027 Best Maternal and Child Health Schools ranking, including 5 for bachelor’s degrees, 6 for master’s degrees and 2 for doctorates. It also ranks maternal and child health schools within 4 states. In all, 22 colleges offer maternal and child health programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Maternal and Child Health Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common maternal and child health credential is the master’s degree: 196 of the 225 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to maternal and child health call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Medicine and Dentistry, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
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How long a maternal and child health degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 15 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 196 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 14 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to maternal and child health, at 29.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 29.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 20.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 18.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 14.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 13.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.5% |
| Some college courses | 0.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Maternal and Child Health, with an average median salary of $67,430; the strongest outlook belongs to Community Health Workers, at 13.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Clinical Instructor, Instructor, Nutrition Educator and Roentgenology Teacher.
The occupation related to maternal and child health 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% |
| Community Health Workers | 300,538 | 13.4% |
| Health Education Specialists | 169,157 | 3.7% |
Maternal and Child Health 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 maternal and child health is Health Education Specialists, with a median salary of $81,726.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Education Specialists | $81,726 |
| Community Health Workers | $73,901 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Maternal and Child Health has 11 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 41,508 degrees a year; the largest are Public Health, General (24,834), Public Health Education and Promotion (3,767) and Community Health and Preventive Medicine (3,539). 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 |
| Community Health and Preventive Medicine | 3,539 |
| 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 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
