2026 Best General Public Health Schools in California
General Public Health programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 41 schools to find the best for general public health students.
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Best Schools for General Public Health in California
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general public health degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in General Public Health
No school ranked higher than University Of California Berkeley this year for general public health. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 500 general public health students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general public health program make about $63,661 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,729.
More information about a degree in general public health from University Of California Berkeley
Students looking for a strong general public health program will find one at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, which ranked #2. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 52 general public health degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Graduates of the general public health program make about $61,010 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,273.
Get the full general public health details for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Stanford University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best general public health schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 general public health students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general public health degree from Stanford University earn around $100,827 in the first couple years of their career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
Read more about the general public health program at Stanford University
University Of California San Diego came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best general public health schools. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 80 general public health students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $39,144. Students borrow a median of $15,280 to complete this degree.
See the full general public health program report for University Of California San Diego
San Diego State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best general public health schools. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. About 274 general public health degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. General Public Health graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $55,784 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,812 to complete this degree.
See the full general public health program report for San Diego State University
California State University Chico came in at #6 for general public health this year. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. California State University Chico awarded about 113 general public health degrees in the most recent data year. General Public Health graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $45,339 early in their careers. California State University Chico graduates carry a median of $20,750 in student loans.
See the full general public health program report for California State University Chico
University Of California Irvine earned the #7 position for general public health this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. There were roughly 54 general public health students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $51,370. Students borrow a median of $17,285 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general public health program at University Of California Irvine
Santa Clara University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best general public health schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Santa Clara. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Santa Clara University awarded about 32 general public health degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general public health degree from Santa Clara University earn around $47,274 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500.
Get the full general public health details for Santa Clara University
University Of Southern California landed the #9 spot for general public health this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 235 general public health degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $47,456. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,250 in student loans.
Get the full general public health details for University Of Southern California
California State University Sacramento placed #10 among the best general public health schools. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. California State University Sacramento graduates 56% of students within six years. California State University Sacramento awarded about 171 general public health degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general public health program make about $49,907 in their early career. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $17,492 in student loans.
Get the full general public health details for California State University Sacramento
San Jose State University earned the #11 position for general public health this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 201 general public health degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full general public health program report for San Jose State University
California State University East Bay landed the #12 spot for general public health this year. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 72 general public health degrees were awarded at California State University East Bay in the most recent year. General Public Health graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $58,951 early in their careers. California State University East Bay graduates carry a median of $18,073 in student loans.
See the full general public health program report for California State University East Bay
Loma Linda University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best general public health schools. Loma Linda University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Loma Linda. About 21 general public health degrees were awarded at Loma Linda University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general public health degree from Loma Linda University earn around $59,598 in the first couple years of their career. Loma Linda University graduates carry a median of $25,094 in student loans.
Get the full general public health details for Loma Linda University
University Of San Francisco earned the #14 position for general public health this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit institution. University Of San Francisco graduates 70% of students within six years. University Of San Francisco awarded about 73 general public health degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $72,965. Students borrow a median of $23,935 to complete this degree.
See the full general public health program report for University Of San Francisco
San Francisco State University landed the #15 spot for general public health this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 139 general public health degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general public health degree from San Francisco State University earn around $64,055 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,024 to complete this degree.
Get the full general public health details for San Francisco State University
California State University Northridge came in at #16 for general public health this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Northridge. About 57% of students finish within six years. California State University Northridge awarded about 197 general public health degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general public health program make about $54,044 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete this degree.
See the full general public health program report for California State University Northridge
California State University Long Beach ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best general public health schools. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. California State University Long Beach awarded about 40 general public health degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $50,362. Typical student debt for the program is $13,480.
Read more about the general public health program at California State University Long Beach
University Of California Merced landed the #18 spot for general public health this year. Set in the suburb of Merced, University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public institution. University Of California Merced graduates 69% of students within six years. About 99 general public health degrees were awarded at University Of California Merced in the most recent year. Students who receive their general public health degree from University Of California Merced earn around $36,555 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,502 to complete this degree.
See the full general public health program report for University Of California Merced
Claremont Graduate University came in at #19 for general public health this year. Claremont Graduate University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. About 29 general public health degrees were awarded at Claremont Graduate University in the most recent year. General Public Health graduates of Claremont Graduate University earn a median of $70,190 early in their careers.
See the full general public health program report for Claremont Graduate University
Touro University California landed the #20 spot for general public health this year. Touro University California is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Vallejo. There were roughly 78 general public health students who graduated with this degree at Touro University California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general public health program make about $111,615 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,002 to complete this degree.
Get the full general public health details for Touro University California
California State University San Marcos earned the #21 position for general public health this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of San Marcos. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 66 general public health degrees were awarded at California State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from California State University San Marcos generally make around $48,726. California State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $17,527 in student loans.
See the full general public health program report for California State University San Marcos
California State University Fullerton landed the #22 spot for general public health this year. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 372 general public health degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Students who receive their general public health degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $48,455 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $13,500 in student loans.
Read more about the general public health program at California State University Fullerton
California State University San Bernardino ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best general public health schools. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. California State University San Bernardino graduates 55% of students within six years. About 89 general public health degrees were awarded at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent year. Students who receive their general public health degree from California State University San Bernardino earn around $51,772 in the first couple years of their career. California State University San Bernardino graduates carry a median of $15,149 in student loans.
Get the full general public health details for California State University San Bernardino
California State University Los Angeles placed #24 among the best general public health schools. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. California State University Los Angeles graduates 53% of students within six years. About 190 general public health degrees were awarded at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent year. Graduates of the general public health program make about $40,750 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general public health from California State University Los Angeles
University Of California Davis ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best general public health schools. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of California Davis awarded about 37 general public health degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $52,119. Students borrow a median of $14,404 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general public health program at University Of California Davis
Rest of the Top 31 General Public Health Schools
These schools also placed among the best for general public health this year:
More General Public Health Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 41 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
