2027 Best Public Health Schools in the Southeast Region
Public Health is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their public health programs.
College Factual analyzed 102 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best public health schools.
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Best Schools for Public Health in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall public health education in the Southeast Region.
Top Schools in Public Health
The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center tops our 2027 ranking of the best public health schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Memphis. The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center awarded about 20 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center generally make around $86,386. Typical student debt for the program is $25,679.
More information about a degree in public health from The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center
Students looking for a strong public health program will find one at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Atlanta. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 21 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public health program at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Students looking for a strong public health program will find one at University Of Miami, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. University Of Miami awarded about 80 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $69,067 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete this degree.
See the full public health program report for University Of Miami
Vanderbilt University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best public health schools. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 public health degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent 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.
See the full public health program report for Vanderbilt University
Clemson University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public health, ranking #5. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. About 15 public health degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $53,834. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $23,783 in student loans.
Get the full public health details for Clemson University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best public health schools. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. About 157 public health degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $66,357. Typical student debt for the program is $23,393.
See the full public health program report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #7 among the best public health schools. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 491 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $75,293. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $16,203 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public health from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #8 position for public health this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 49 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $63,861 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627.
Read more about the public health program at University Of Virginia Main Campus
Emory University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best public health schools. Emory University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Atlanta. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 67 public health students who graduated with this degree at Emory University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from Emory University earn around $63,822 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,431.
Get the full public health details for Emory University
Duke University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best public health schools. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. There were roughly 21 public health students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from Duke University earn around $53,804 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,500.
Read more about the public health program at Duke University
University Of Georgia earned the #11 position for public health this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Georgia awarded about 248 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $43,268 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
See the full public health program report for University Of Georgia
George Mason University placed #12 among the best public health schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 236 public health students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $52,149 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000.
See the full public health program report for George Mason University
University Of Florida came in at #13 for public health this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. About 411 public health degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Graduates of the public health program make about $42,481 in their early career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $17,580 in student loans.
Read more about the public health program at University Of Florida
Elon University came in at #14 for public health this year. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 public health degrees were awarded at Elon University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public health degree from Elon University earn around $42,088 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
Read more about the public health program at Elon University
Florida State University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best public health schools. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Florida State University awarded about 332 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $43,953 in their early career. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $20,488 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public health from Florida State University
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #16 for public health this year. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 566 public health students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Carolina Columbia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $64,396 in their early career. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public health from University Of South Carolina Columbia
University Of Kentucky earned the #17 position for public health this year. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Kentucky awarded about 121 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $49,431 in their early career. University Of Kentucky graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public health from University Of Kentucky
Tulane University Of Louisiana came in at #18 for public health this year. Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 107 public health students who graduated with this degree at Tulane University Of Louisiana in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from Tulane University Of Louisiana earn around $55,042 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,077 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public health from Tulane University Of Louisiana
Samford University landed the #19 spot for public health this year. Located in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. Samford University awarded about 30 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of Samford University earn a median of $57,501 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,039.
Get the full public health details for Samford University
University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #20 position for public health this year. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of South Florida Main Campus awarded about 350 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $65,148. Students borrow a median of $22,345 to complete this degree.
See the full public health program report for University Of South Florida Main Campus
The University Of Alabama landed the #21 spot for public health this year. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. The University Of Alabama graduates 73% of students within six years. About 241 public health degrees were awarded at The University Of Alabama in the most recent year. Graduates of the public health program make about $35,698 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
See the full public health program report for The University Of Alabama
University Of Alabama At Birmingham placed #22 among the best public health schools. Located in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 436 public health degrees were awarded at University Of Alabama At Birmingham in the most recent year. Public Health graduates of University Of Alabama At Birmingham earn a median of $44,505 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public health from University Of Alabama At Birmingham
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington placed #23 among the best public health schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Wilmington. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates 71% of students within six years. There were roughly 95 public health students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $36,458 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans.
Read more about the public health program at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
East Carolina University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best public health schools. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 314 public health students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $45,253 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,750.
More information about a degree in public health from East Carolina University
The University Of Tennessee ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best public health schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Knoxville. About 74% of students finish within six years. The University Of Tennessee awarded about 92 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from The University Of Tennessee earn around $49,826 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,859 to complete this degree.
See the full public health program report for The University Of Tennessee
Rest of the Top 50 Public Health Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong public health education:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 102 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.