by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Epidemiology explores Epidemiology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Disease, Disability, And Trauma Patterns Within And Across Populations And The Development Of Health Management Mechanisms To Prevent And Control Disease Outbreaks And Injurious Behaviors. Includes Instruction In Biostatistics, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Immunology, Disease And Injury Determinants, Genetic Disease And Disability Factors, Behavioral Studies, Health Services Research, Environmental Disease And Injury Factors, And Population Studies. Read on to learn the key facts every epidemiology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering epidemiology programs.
Nationwide, epidemiology draws strong interest, with 3,053 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Epidemiology Schools ranking analyzes these 101 schools to determine the best overall colleges for epidemiology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of epidemiology programs later in this article.
Studies in Epidemiology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations epidemiology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a epidemiology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a epidemiology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several epidemiology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 145 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,529 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 379 |
People currently working in careers related to epidemiology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 38.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 24.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 19.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 10.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in epidemiology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in epidemiology opens doors to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to epidemiology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to epidemiology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Epidemiologists | 190,675 | 3.2% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of epidemiology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,645 |
| 4 years | $55,280 |
| 5 years | $64,232 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for epidemiology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers epidemiology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Epidemiologists | $87,636 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 101 different epidemiology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased epidemiology school rankings to help you.
Those considering epidemiology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography | 2,375 |
| Ecology | 1,201 |
| Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | 840 |
| Conservation Biology | 592 |
| Environmental Biology | 449 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other | 311 |
| Evolutionary Biology | 176 |
| Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 151 |
| Aquatic Biology/Limnology | 119 |
| Systematic Biology/Biological Systematics | 18 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
