by our College Data Analytics Team
[Public Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a public health degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying public health schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send public health graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 for public health graduate salaries in Illinois. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public health graduates from Northwestern University make a median of around $183,592 per year.
University Of Illinois At Chicago produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public health, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $90,212.
A rank of #3 makes Benedictine University one of the highest-paying schools for public health. Benedictine University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lisle. After graduating, public health degree recipients from Benedictine University typically earn about $87,852 annually.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution. Public Health graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of about $70,246 a year early in their careers.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,043.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Addison. Public Health graduates of Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois earn a median of about $68,487 a year early in their careers.
University Of Illinois At Springfield landed the #7 spot for public health salaries this year. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a public school located in the city of Springfield. After graduating, public health degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Springfield typically earn about $79,233 annually.
Depaul University landed the #8 spot for public health salaries this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Health graduates of Depaul University earn a median of about $71,348 a year early in their careers.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #9 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 $57,236.
This ranking is produced 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 · 9 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.