by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 484 U.S. colleges awarded 24,834 degrees and certificates in General Public Health. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 49% of graduates. College Factual ranks 282 schools in its 2027 Best General Public 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 General Public Health explores Public Health, General. A Program That Generally Prepares Individuals To Plan, Manage, And Evaluate Public Health Care Services; To Function As Public Health Professionals In Public Agencies, The Private Sector, And Other Settings; And To Provide Leadership In The Field Of Public Health. Includes Instruction In Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Public Health Principles, Preventive Medicine, Health Policy And Regulations, Health Care Services And Related Administrative Functions, Public Health Law Enforcement, Health Economics And Budgeting, Public Communications, And Professional Standards And Ethics. Examples: [Public Health, General (Mph)], [Public Health, General (Dph)].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., general public health is a popular field of study, with 24,834 degrees awarded annually. 484 colleges award general public health degrees, an average of 51 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 796.
By level, the 24,834 awards include 25 certificates, 633 associate degrees, 11,321 bachelor’s degrees, 12,168 master’s degrees and 665 doctorates.
Women earned 79% of general public health degrees and certificates in the latest year (19,708 of 24,834). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (8,735) and Black or African American (4,293), and international students earned 1,243.
College Factual ranks 282 schools in its 2027 Best General Public Health Schools ranking, including 10 for associate degrees, 184 for bachelor’s degrees, 200 for master’s degrees and 28 for doctorates. It also ranks general public health schools within 50 states. In all, 484 colleges offer general public health programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Public Health Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general public health credential is the master’s degree: 12,168 of the 24,834 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general public health 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 general public health degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 25 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 633 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 11,321 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 12,168 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 665 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general public health, at 27.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 27.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 25.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 14.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 12.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.9% |
| Some college courses | 1.0% |
| First professional degree | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to General Public Health, with an average median salary of $82,962; the strongest outlook belongs to Community Health Workers, at 13.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Instructor, Clinical Instructor, Nutrition Educator and Optometry Teacher.
The occupation related to general public 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% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 419,330 | 8.8% |
| Community Health Workers | 300,538 | 13.4% |
| Health Education Specialists | 169,157 | 3.7% |
General Public 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 general public health is Medical and Health Services Managers, with a median salary of $129,557.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Health Education Specialists | $81,726 |
| Community Health Workers | $73,901 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
General Public Health has 11 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 16,899 degrees a year; the largest are Public Health Education and Promotion (3,767), Community Health and Preventive Medicine (3,539) and Public Health, Other (2,750). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Maternal and Child Health | 225 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
