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.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 100 schools to find where public health graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose public health graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Vanderbilt University, our #1 for public health graduate salaries in the United States. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $228,535.
Harvard University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Health graduates of Harvard University earn a median of about $204,275 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Arcadia University one of the highest-paying schools for public health. Arcadia University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Glenside. Public Health graduates of Arcadia University earn a median of about $127,682 a year early in their careers.
Lake Erie College Of Osteopathic Medicine produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public health, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Erie, Lake Erie College Of Osteopathic Medicine is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Health graduates of Lake Erie College Of Osteopathic Medicine earn a median of about $195,947 a year early in their careers.
Northwestern University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public health, landing the #5 spot this year. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Public Health graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of about $183,592 a year early in their careers.
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana came in at #6 for public health graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Butte, Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $119,118.
University Of California Berkeley came in at #7 for public health graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Early-career public health graduates from University Of California Berkeley make a median of around $106,720 per year.
The University Of West Florida placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for public health. Located in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $145,561.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #9 for public health graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. Early-career public health graduates from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities make a median of around $138,364 per year.
Saint Josephs College Of Maine earned the #10 position for public health graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Standish, Saint Josephs College Of Maine is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $93,687.
Touro University California landed the #11 spot for public health salaries this year. Located in the city of Vallejo, Touro University California is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public health graduates from Touro University California make a median of around $63,592 per year.
University Of California Los Angeles placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for public health. University Of California Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Public Health graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $114,617 a year early in their careers.
A T Still University Of Health Sciences ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. A T Still University Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Kirksville. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $112,869.
Weber State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Weber State University is a public school located in the city of Ogden. Public Health graduates of Weber State University earn a median of about $96,956 a year early in their careers.
Tufts University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Tufts University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $111,063.
University Of Iowa landed the #16 spot for public health salaries this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $110,605.
University Of Wyoming came in at #17 for public health graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $85,547.
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #18 spot for public health salaries this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public health graduates from Columbia University In The City Of New York make a median of around $101,910 per year.
Johns Hopkins University earned the #19 position for public health graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Health graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of about $102,525 a year early in their careers.
Queens University Of Charlotte came in at #20 for public health graduate earnings this year. Queens University Of Charlotte is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charlotte. Public Health graduates of Queens University Of Charlotte earn a median of about $83,250 a year early in their careers.
Oregon Health And Science University landed the #21 spot for public health salaries this year. Oregon Health And Science University is a public school located in the city of Portland. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $115,507.
Westminster College Utah placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for public health. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, Westminster College Utah is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public health graduates from Westminster College Utah make a median of around $81,939 per year.
Suny Downstate Medical Center landed the #23 spot for public health salaries this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Suny Downstate Medical Center is a public institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from Suny Downstate Medical Center typically earn about $91,782 annually.
Yale University placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for public health. Yale University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Public Health graduates of Yale University earn a median of about $94,970 a year early in their careers.
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #25 position for public health graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. Public Health graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of about $93,644 a year early in their careers.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning public health graduates:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Public Health rankings across degree levels:
This ranking is produced 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 · 100 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.
