by our College Data Analytics Team
[Public Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 27 schools on the early-career earnings of their public health graduates.
What’s on this page:
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. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Public Health graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of about $98,041 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of California Los Angeles earned it the #2 place for public health. University Of California Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $116,322.
A rank of #3 makes Touro University California one of the highest-paying schools for public health. Set in the city of Vallejo, Touro University California is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Health graduates of Touro University California earn a median of about $63,592 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in public health will find them at Claremont Graduate University, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Graduate University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $95,981.
Santa Clara University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Health graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of about $65,015 a year early in their careers.
University Of California San Diego earned the #6 position for public health graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a public institution. Public Health graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of about $67,103 a year early in their careers.
San Jose State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,170.
San Francisco State University earned the #8 position for public health graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a public institution. Early-career public health graduates from San Francisco State University make a median of around $91,104 per year.
California State University Long Beach placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for public health. California State University Long Beach is a public school located in the city of Long Beach. Public Health graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of about $84,760 a year early in their careers.
California State University Northridge ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. California State University Northridge is a public school located in the city of Northridge. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $66,995.
University Of San Francisco earned the #11 position for public health graduate earnings this year. University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Early-career public health graduates from University Of San Francisco make a median of around $72,965 per year.
Loma Linda University landed the #12 spot for public health salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Loma Linda, Loma Linda University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Health graduates of Loma Linda University earn a median of about $90,994 a year early in their careers.
University Of California San Francisco ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of California San Francisco is a public institution. Public Health graduates of University Of California San Francisco earn a median of about $87,858 a year early in their careers.
California State University Los Angeles landed the #14 spot for public health salaries this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a public institution. Public Health graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of about $56,290 a year early in their careers.
University Of Southern California came in at #15 for public health graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from University Of Southern California typically earn about $82,760 annually.
University Of California Irvine placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for public health. University Of California Irvine is a public school located in the city of Irvine. Public Health graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of about $64,449 a year early in their careers.
Charles R Drew University Of Medicine And Science placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for public health. Set in the suburb of Los Angeles, Charles R Drew University Of Medicine And Science is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Health graduates of Charles R Drew University Of Medicine And Science earn a median of about $90,781 a year early in their careers.
San Diego State University placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for public health. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a public institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from San Diego State University typically earn about $91,167 annually.
California State University Chico landed the #19 spot for public health salaries this year. California State University Chico is a public school located in the city of Chico. After graduating, public health degree recipients from California State University Chico typically earn about $45,339 annually.
National University placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for public health. Located in the city of San Diego, National University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from National University typically earn about $66,347 annually.
Azusa Pacific University College landed the #21 spot for public health salaries this year. Located in the suburb of San Dimas, Azusa Pacific University College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from Azusa Pacific University College typically earn about $66,387 annually.
University Of California Davis placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for public health. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a public institution. Early-career public health graduates from University Of California Davis make a median of around $75,971 per year.
California State University Fresno came in at #23 for public health graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,012.
West Coast University Orange County came in at #24 for public health graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Anaheim, West Coast University Orange County is a private for-profit institution. Public Health graduates of West Coast University Orange County earn a median of about $60,316 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Merced placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for public health. Set in the suburb of Merced, University Of California Merced is a public institution. Public Health graduates of University Of California Merced earn a median of about $36,555 a year early in their careers.
These schools also send public health graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 27 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.