by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Science/Health/Environmental Journalism explores A Program That Focuses On Reporting On Science, Health, Or Environmental Policy Issues; Investigating Environmental Problems And Their Causes; And Public Relations. Includes Instruction In Communication Law, Health Reporting Skills, Interactive Journalism, Integrated Marketing Communication, Journalism Methods, Media Ethics, Persuasion And Political Communication, Science, Health And The Environment, Social Marketing, And Video Journalism. Continue reading for the important information every science/health/environmental journalism student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering science/health/environmental journalism programs.
Across the country, science/health/environmental journalism draws strong interest, with 10 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Science/Health/Environmental Journalism Schools ranking analyzes these 2 schools to determine the best overall colleges for science/health/environmental journalism students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of science/health/environmental journalism programs later in this article.
Coursework for Science/Health/Environmental Journalism build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations science/health/environmental journalism graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a science/health/environmental journalism program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a science/health/environmental journalism major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several science/health/environmental journalism 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 | 1 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 9 |
People currently working in careers related to science/health/environmental journalism tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 70.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in science/health/environmental journalism careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying science/health/environmental journalism can lead to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to science/health/environmental journalism.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to science/health/environmental journalism.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 919,494 | -1.5% |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | 92,155 | -0.2% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of science/health/environmental journalism graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $36,675 |
| 4 years | $49,199 |
| 5 years | $57,526 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for science/health/environmental journalism graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers science/health/environmental journalism grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $96,169 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $74,101 |
With 2 different science/health/environmental journalism programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased science/health/environmental journalism school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in science/health/environmental journalism, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Journalism | 9,378 |
| Journalism, Other | 1,098 |
| Broadcast Journalism | 757 |
| Photojournalism | 91 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
