Public Health is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 283 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best public health schools.
Leading the list is California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, our #1 school for public health. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 55 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $61,010 in their early career. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $19,273 in student loans.
See the full public health program report for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Students looking for a strong public health program will find one at Cornell University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 67 public health degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Public Health graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $44,516 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,133 to complete this degree.
Get the full public health details for Cornell University
Georgetown University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public health, ranking #3. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 public health students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $50,415. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public health from Georgetown University
A rank of #4 makes Tufts University one of the top schools for public health. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 139 public health students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $53,372 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #5 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the top schools for public health. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 506 public health degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public health degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $36,540 in the first couple years of their career. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $12,750 in student loans.
See the full public health program report for Johns Hopkins University
University Of California Berkeley landed the #6 spot for public health this year. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 197 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $48,351 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,729.
Read more about the public health program at University Of California Berkeley
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #7 for public health this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. About 343 public health degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their public health degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $46,016 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,490 to complete this degree.
See the full public health program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of California San Diego ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best public health schools. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 356 public health students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $39,144 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,280.
More information about a degree in public health from University Of California San Diego
Lehigh University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best public health schools. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Lehigh University graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 54 public health students who graduated with this degree at Lehigh University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $70,321 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete this degree.
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George Washington University landed the #10 spot for public health this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 222 public health students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $44,809 in their early career. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $23,822 in student loans.
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Indiana University Bloomington placed #11 among the best public health schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 214 public health students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $42,790. Students borrow a median of $19,689 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Los Angeles landed the #12 spot for public health this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 190 public health students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $95,337. Typical student debt for the program is $16,097.
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Texas A And M University College Station earned the #13 position for public health this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 344 public health students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $39,584 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,856.
More information about a degree in public health from Texas A And M University College Station
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best public health schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 195 public health students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $36,181 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,903.
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California State University Chico placed #15 among the best public health schools. This large public university is located in the city of Chico. California State University Chico graduates 63% of students within six years. California State University Chico awarded about 95 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from California State University Chico generally make around $45,339. Students borrow a median of $20,750 to complete this degree.
See the full public health program report for California State University Chico
Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #16 among the best public health schools. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 408 public health students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $45,408. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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San Diego State University earned the #17 position for public health this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. About 76% of students finish within six years. San Diego State University awarded about 195 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $41,092 in their early career. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $13,812 in student loans.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #18 for public health this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Blacksburg. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 117 public health students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $66,357 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,393 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public health from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best public health schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 151 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $40,564 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,678.
More information about a degree in public health from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
San Jose State University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best public health schools. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. San Jose State University awarded about 162 public health degrees in the most recent data year.
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University Of Miami earned the #21 position for public health this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Coral Gables. About 84% of students finish within six years. University Of Miami awarded about 80 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $69,067 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,750.
See the full public health program report for University Of Miami
New York University came in at #22 for public health this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 70 public health degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Public Health graduates of New York University earn a median of $37,573 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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Purdue University Main Campus earned the #23 position for public health this year. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 68 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $45,274 in their early career. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
Read more about the public health program at Purdue University Main Campus
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #24 for public health this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 73 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $36,226 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
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Santa Clara University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best public health schools. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 60 public health students who graduated with this degree at Santa Clara University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $47,274 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500.
Get the full public health details for Santa Clara University
Rest of the Top 50 Public Health Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong public health education:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 283 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).