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 schools below stand out for the salaries their public health graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 5 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.
For graduate earnings in public health, no school beat Vanderbilt University this year. 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.
The University Of Tennessee produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public health, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. Early-career public health graduates from The University Of Tennessee make a median of around $67,519 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at East Tennessee State University earned it the #3 place for public health. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a public institution. Students who complete the public health program here go on to a median salary of roughly $77,717.
Middle Tennessee State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public health, landing the #4 spot this year. Middle Tennessee State University is a public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. Public Health graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of about $48,323 a year early in their careers.
University Of Memphis produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public health, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a public institution. Early-career public health graduates from University Of Memphis make a median of around $59,405 per year.
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 · 5 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.