by our College Data Analytics Team
[Public Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a public health degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying public health schools.
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Below are the schools whose public health graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in public health, no school beat University Of California Berkeley this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley typically earn about $81,604 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in public health will find them at University Of Southern California, which ranked #2. University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. After graduating, public health degree recipients from University Of Southern California typically earn about $81,522 annually.
Santa Clara University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public health, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public health graduates from Santa Clara University make a median of around $65,015 per year.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the highest-paying schools for public health. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus typically earn about $65,780 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in public health will find them at University Of Washington Tacoma Campus, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,780.
National University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for public health. National University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. After graduating, public health degree recipients from National University typically earn about $55,472 annually.
University Of California San Diego came in at #7 for public health graduate earnings this year. University Of California San Diego is a public school located in the city of La Jolla. Early-career public health graduates from University Of California San Diego make a median of around $67,103 per year.
Oregon State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a public institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from Oregon State University typically earn about $60,183 annually.
California State University Northridge placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for public health. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a public institution. Public Health graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of about $61,716 a year early in their careers.
Central Washington University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Located in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,484.
University Of California Irvine landed the #11 spot for public health salaries this year. University Of California Irvine is a public school located in the city of Irvine. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,449.
California State University Los Angeles came in at #12 for public health graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a public institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles typically earn about $56,290 annually.
California State University Chico landed the #13 spot for public health salaries this year. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,339.
Portland State University came in at #14 for public health graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a public institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from Portland State University typically earn about $54,207 annually.
Pacific University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Set in the suburb of Forest Grove, Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from Pacific University typically earn about $62,105 annually.
University Of Alaska Anchorage ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. University Of Alaska Anchorage is a public school located in the city of Anchorage. Public Health graduates of University Of Alaska Anchorage earn a median of about $42,552 a year early in their careers.
Western Oregon University earned the #17 position for public health graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Monmouth, Western Oregon University is a public institution. Public Health graduates of Western Oregon University earn a median of about $49,490 a year early in their careers.
San Diego State University placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for public health. San Diego State University is a public school located in the city of San Diego. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,092.
California State University Fresno placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for public health. California State University Fresno is a public school located in the city of Fresno. Early-career public health graduates from California State University Fresno make a median of around $46,012 per year.
University Of California Merced landed the #20 spot for public health salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Merced, University Of California Merced is a public institution. Early-career public health graduates from University Of California Merced make a median of around $36,555 per year.
California State University Fullerton earned the #21 position for public health graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a public institution. Public Health graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of about $34,909 a year early in their careers.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa landed the #22 spot for public health salaries this year. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a public institution. Early-career public health graduates from University Of Hawaii At Manoa make a median of around $27,309 per year.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries public health graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 22 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.