2026 Best Public Health Schools in the The Plains States Region
Public Health is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 75 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for public health students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Public Health in the The Plains States Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the public health degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Public Health
Leading the list is University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, our #1 school for public health. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 203 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $70,387. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577.
Get the full public health details for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
A rank of #2 makes Washington University In St Louis one of the top schools for public health. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of St. Louis. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 114 public health degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Students who receive their public health degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $59,463 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public health from Washington University In St Louis
University Of Iowa came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best public health schools. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 203 public health degrees were awarded at University Of Iowa in the most recent year. Public Health graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $48,836 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,469.
See the full public health program report for University Of Iowa
Students looking for a strong public health program will find one at University Of Nebraska Medical Center, which ranked #4. University Of Nebraska Medical Center is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Omaha. There were roughly 110 public health students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska Medical Center in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $59,287 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,905.
Get the full public health details for University Of Nebraska Medical Center
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public health, ranking #5. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona. About 66% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 54 public health students who graduated with this degree at Saint Marys University Of Minnesota in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Saint Marys University Of Minnesota generally make around $69,785. Typical student debt for the program is $27,081.
Get the full public health details for Saint Marys University Of Minnesota
A T Still University Of Health Sciences came in at #6 for public health this year. Set in the town of Kirksville, A T Still University Of Health Sciences is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. A T Still University Of Health Sciences awarded about 272 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from A T Still University Of Health Sciences generally make around $75,517.
Get the full public health details for A T Still University Of Health Sciences
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #7 spot for public health this year. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 154 public health students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $53,368. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
More information about a degree in public health from University Of Missouri Columbia
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #8 for public health this year. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 18 public health degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent year. Graduates of the public health program make about $38,475 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full public health details for University Of St Thomas Minnesota
Winona State University came in at #9 for public health this year. Set in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 public health degrees were awarded at Winona State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public health program make about $46,250 in their early career. Winona State University graduates carry a median of $20,966 in student loans.
Get the full public health details for Winona State University
Missouri State University Springfield landed the #10 spot for public health this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. Missouri State University Springfield graduates 58% of students within six years. About 53 public health degrees were awarded at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent year. Public Health graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $46,503 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,408.
More information about a degree in public health from Missouri State University Springfield
Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #11 spot for public health this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Louis. Saint Louis University Main Campus graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 92 public health students who graduated with this degree at Saint Louis University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of Saint Louis University Main Campus earn a median of $47,886 early in their careers. Saint Louis University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,122 in student loans.
Read more about the public health program at Saint Louis University Main Campus
University Of Kansas earned the #12 position for public health this year. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 31 public health students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kansas in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $62,420 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,608 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public health program at University Of Kansas
University Of Northern Iowa placed #13 among the best public health schools. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 public health students who graduated with this degree at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from University Of Northern Iowa earn around $46,054 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,635.
Get the full public health details for University Of Northern Iowa
Southeast Technical Institute came in at #14 for public health this year. Southeast Technical Institute is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Sioux Falls. There were roughly 46 public health students who graduated with this degree at Southeast Technical Institute in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $48,654 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,442 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public health from Southeast Technical Institute
Lindenwood University placed #15 among the best public health schools. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 public health students who graduated with this degree at Lindenwood University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from Lindenwood University earn around $48,197 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full public health program report for Lindenwood University
St Catherine University landed the #16 spot for public health this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, St Catherine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. St Catherine University awarded about 66 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of St Catherine University earn a median of $52,000 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,815 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public health from St Catherine University
Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center placed #17 among the best public health schools. Located in the rural area of West Des Moines, Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center is a small private not-for-profit university. About 22 public health degrees were awarded at Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center in the most recent year. Graduates of the public health program make about $71,864 in their early career.
Read more about the public health program at Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center
University Of North Dakota came in at #18 for public health this year. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 public health students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Dakota in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $64,378 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,110.
Get the full public health details for University Of North Dakota
Saint Ambrose University earned the #19 position for public health this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Davenport. Saint Ambrose University graduates 61% of students within six years. Saint Ambrose University awarded about 11 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from Saint Ambrose University earn around $57,252 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,528.
More information about a degree in public health from Saint Ambrose University
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #20 among the best public health schools. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public institution. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates 65% of students within six years. University Of Minnesota Duluth awarded about 16 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $36,520 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full public health details for University Of Minnesota Duluth
Truman State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best public health schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Kirksville. Truman State University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 28 public health degrees were awarded at Truman State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public health program make about $30,911 in their early career. Truman State University graduates carry a median of $23,278 in student loans.
Read more about the public health program at Truman State University
University Of South Dakota earned the #22 position for public health this year. This large public university is located in the town of Vermillion. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 public health students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Dakota in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from University Of South Dakota earn around $54,328 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,322 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public health from University Of South Dakota
Saint Cloud State University earned the #23 position for public health this year. This large public university is located in the city of Saint Cloud. Saint Cloud State University graduates 39% of students within six years. Saint Cloud State University awarded about 14 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $32,830 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,850 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public health from Saint Cloud State University
University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #24 for public health this year. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public school located in the city of Omaha. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 public health students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska At Omaha in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $40,021. Typical student debt for the program is $21,328.
Get the full public health details for University Of Nebraska At Omaha
South Dakota State University placed #25 among the best public health schools. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. South Dakota State University graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 public health students who graduated with this degree at South Dakota State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from South Dakota State University earn around $51,260 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,989.
Read more about the public health program at South Dakota State University
Rest of the Top 36 Public Health Schools
These schools also placed among the best for public health this year:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 75 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.