Public Health degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 894 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for public health students pursuing a degree.
University Of California Berkeley is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in public health. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 322 public health degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Graduates of the public health program make about $63,661 in their early career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $11,729 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public health from University Of California Berkeley
Harvard University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public health, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 408 public health students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $108,479 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Los Angeles is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public health, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 198 public health degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Public Health graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $75,311 early in their careers. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans.
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Cornell University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best public health schools. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 83 public health degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Public Health graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $44,516 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,133 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #5 makes Tufts University one of the top schools for public health. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Tufts University awarded about 126 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $70,674 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,250.
More information about a degree in public health from Tufts University
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #6 among the best public health schools. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 512 public health students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $71,704. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans.
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Stanford University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best public health schools. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 public health students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
See the full public health program report for Stanford University
Dartmouth College earned the #8 position for public health this year. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 79 public health degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Graduates of the public health program make about $81,992 in their early career. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $16,989 in student loans.
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Johns Hopkins University earned the #9 position for public health this year. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 132 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $70,790 early in their careers. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #10 for public health this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 193 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $70,125 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,490 to complete this degree.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities placed #11 among the best public health schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. About 155 public health degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Public Health graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $70,387 early in their careers. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
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University Of California Irvine earned the #12 position for public health this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. About 436 public health degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Graduates of the public health program make about $67,277 in their early career. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $17,285 in student loans.
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Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #13 for public health this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 23 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn around $83,560 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete this degree.
See the full public health program report for Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Brown University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best public health schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 43 public health students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $70,405. Students borrow a median of $11,760 to complete this degree.
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Texas A And M University College Station ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best public health schools. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 339 public health students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $69,409 early in their careers. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $18,856 in student loans.
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University Of Pennsylvania earned the #16 position for public health this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 59 public health students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $65,496. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans.
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Yale University landed the #17 spot for public health this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 159 public health students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of Yale University earn a median of $72,627 early in their careers. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
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Northwestern University landed the #18 spot for public health this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 66 public health students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $66,859. Typical student debt for the program is $14,684.
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San Diego State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best public health schools. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 108 public health students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $70,475. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $13,812 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best public health schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 39 public health degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in public health from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Boston University landed the #21 spot for public health this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. About 89% of students finish within six years. Boston University awarded about 238 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of Boston University earn a median of $68,423 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete this degree.
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George Washington University came in at #22 for public health this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 519 public health students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $69,429. Students borrow a median of $23,822 to complete this degree.
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Vanderbilt University earned the #23 position for public health this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 34 public health students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $77,997 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975.
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University Of Maryland College Park placed #24 among the best public health schools. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 515 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $72,607 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,424 to complete this degree.
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University Of Connecticut landed the #25 spot for public health this year. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 132 public health students who graduated with this degree at University Of Connecticut in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $65,049 early in their careers. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $23,637 in student loans.
See the full public health program report for University Of Connecticut
Rest of the Top 50 Public Health Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s public health ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 894 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).