by our College Data Analytics Team
[Public Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a public health degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 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.
Western Carolina University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools in North Carolina. Western Carolina University is a public school located in the town of Cullowhee. 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 #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a public institution. Public Health graduates of North Carolina A And T State University earn a median of about $58,660 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Queens University Of Charlotte earned it the #3 place for public health. Queens University Of Charlotte is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charlotte. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $83,250.
A rank of #4 makes Elon University one of the highest-paying schools for public health. Elon University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $66,896.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public health, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. After graduating, public health degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill typically earn about $96,186 annually.
Campbell University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Campbell University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Buies Creek. Public Health graduates of Campbell University earn a median of about $74,166 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro landed the #7 spot for public health salaries this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,380.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a public institution. 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 ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a public institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from East Carolina University typically earn about $59,223 annually.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #10 for public health graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public institution. After graduating, public health degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte typically earn about $63,365 annually.
Duke University earned the #11 position for public health graduate earnings this year. Duke University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. After graduating, public health degree recipients from Duke University typically earn about $70,145 annually.
Appalachian State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,531.
North Carolina Central University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public health schools. Located in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a public institution. Early-career public health graduates from North Carolina Central University make a median of around $38,198 per year.
University Of North Carolina At Asheville earned the #14 position for public health graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a public institution. Early-career public health graduates from University Of North Carolina At Asheville make a median of around $40,255 per year.
This list is compiled 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 · 14 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.