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 28 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying public health schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose public health graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Central Michigan University, our #1 for public health graduate salaries in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a public institution. Public Health graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of about $70,016 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Illinois State University earned it the #2 place for public health. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $83,534.
Oakland University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public health, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a public institution. Public Health graduates of Oakland University earn a median of about $72,819 a year early in their careers.
Carroll University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public health, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Waukesha, Carroll University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Health graduates of Carroll University earn a median of about $63,762 a year early in their careers.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public health, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a public school located in the city of Eau Claire. Early-career public health graduates from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire make a median of around $63,000 per year.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #6 for public health graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington typically earn about $72,757 annually.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #7 spot for public health salaries this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $71,261.
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #8 spot for public health salaries this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,455.
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Public Health graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of about $67,625 a year early in their careers.
Indiana University Northwest earned the #10 position for public health graduate earnings this year. Indiana University Northwest is a public school located in the suburb of Gary. After graduating, public health degree recipients from Indiana University Northwest typically earn about $54,133 annually.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #11 for public health graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. Early-career public health graduates from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis make a median of around $55,049 per year.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #12 for public health graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career public health graduates from Bowling Green State University Main Campus make a median of around $47,019 per year.
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse landed the #13 spot for public health salaries this year. Located in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,004.
University Of Detroit Mercy ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Set in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Health graduates of University Of Detroit Mercy earn a median of about $61,664 a year early in their careers.
University Of Indianapolis earned the #15 position for public health graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, University Of Indianapolis is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public health graduates from University Of Indianapolis make a median of around $44,185 per year.
Bryant And Stratton College Wauwatosa earned the #16 position for public health graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Wauwatosa, Bryant And Stratton College Wauwatosa is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from Bryant And Stratton College Wauwatosa typically earn about $41,022 annually.
Kent State University At Kent placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for public health. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a public institution. Early-career public health graduates from Kent State University At Kent make a median of around $48,967 per year.
University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #18 spot for public health salaries this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public institution. Early-career public health graduates from University Of Illinois At Chicago make a median of around $41,585 per year.
Bryant And Stratton College Parma ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Located in the suburb of Parma, Bryant And Stratton College Parma is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from Bryant And Stratton College Parma typically earn about $42,191 annually.
Governors State University earned the #20 position for public health graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,418.
Eastern Michigan University placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for public health. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. Early-career public health graduates from Eastern Michigan University make a median of around $38,781 per year.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $37,883.
Miami University Oxford came in at #23 for public health graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a public institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from Miami University Oxford typically earn about $37,533 annually.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for public health. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. After graduating, public health degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor typically earn about $36,181 annually.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for public health. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Public Health graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of about $35,023 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid public health ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their public health graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 28 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.