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.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 61 schools to find where public health graduates earn the most.
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.
For graduate earnings in public health, no school beat Shenandoah University this year. Located in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from Shenandoah University typically earn about $63,571 annually.
Western Carolina University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,893.
North Carolina A And T State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public health, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a public institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University typically earn about $58,660 annually.
Louisiana State University Shreveport came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Louisiana State University Shreveport is a public school located in the city of Shreveport. Public Health graduates of Louisiana State University Shreveport earn a median of about $58,347 a year early in their careers.
St Petersburg College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. St Petersburg College is a public school located in the city of St. Petersburg. Early-career public health graduates from St Petersburg College make a median of around $60,679 per year.
American Public University System landed the #6 spot for public health salaries this year. American Public University System is a private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. After graduating, public health degree recipients from American Public University System typically earn about $57,603 annually.
Elon University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for public health. Elon University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. Public Health graduates of Elon University earn a median of about $66,896 a year early in their careers.
Western Kentucky University landed the #8 spot for public health salaries this year. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a public institution. Public Health graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of about $51,773 a year early in their careers.
Agnes Scott College placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for public health. Set in the suburb of Decatur, Agnes Scott College is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Health graduates of Agnes Scott College earn a median of about $51,452 a year early in their careers.
University Of Georgia ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $68,297.
George Mason University came in at #11 for public health graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a public institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from George Mason University typically earn about $65,152 annually.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale landed the #12 spot for public health salaries this year. Set in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,438.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for public health. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public school located in the city of Charlotte. After graduating, public health degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte typically earn about $63,365 annually.
Florida National University Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Florida National University Main Campus is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Hialeah. Public Health graduates of Florida National University Main Campus earn a median of about $43,875 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for public health. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public school located in the city of Greensboro. Early-career public health graduates from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro make a median of around $49,076 per year.
Liberty University landed the #16 spot for public health salaries this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from Liberty University typically earn about $56,943 annually.
University Of Florida placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for public health. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a public institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from University Of Florida typically earn about $66,251 annually.
University Of Florida Online came in at #18 for public health graduate earnings this year. University Of Florida Online is a public school located in the city of Gainesville. Public Health graduates of University Of Florida Online earn a median of about $66,251 a year early in their careers.
Florida Gulf Coast University earned the #19 position for public health graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,743.
East Tennessee State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a public institution. Public Health graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of about $53,377 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington landed the #21 spot for public health salaries this year. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a public school located in the city of Wilmington. Public Health graduates of University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn a median of about $53,609 a year early in their careers.
East Carolina University earned the #22 position for public health graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a public institution. Early-career public health graduates from East Carolina University make a median of around $54,333 per year.
University Of Arkansas ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a public institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from University Of Arkansas typically earn about $51,977 annually.
Kennesaw State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Located in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,175.
Georgia College And State University came in at #25 for public health graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Milledgeville, Georgia College And State University is a public institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from Georgia College And State University typically earn about $53,175 annually.
These schools also send public health graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
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 · 61 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.