by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Health Education covers Health Teacher Education. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Health Education Programs At Various Educational Levels. Read on to learn the key facts every health education student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering health education programs.
Across the country, health education is a popular field of study, with 1,472 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Health Education Schools ranking analyzes these 80 schools to determine the best overall colleges for health education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of health education programs later in this article.
Coursework for Health Education emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations health education graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a health education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a health education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several health education 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 34 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 894 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 524 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 20 |
People currently working in careers related to health education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 47.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 34.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7.2% |
| Master’s degree | 6.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in health education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in health education can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to health education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to health education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of health education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $49,919 |
| 4 years | $50,204 |
| 5 years | $56,331 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for health education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers health education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
With 80 different health education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased health education school rankings to help you.
Students interested in health education, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 6,964 |
| Reading Teacher Education | 5,986 |
| Music Teacher Education | 4,544 |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education | 3,018 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 2,993 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other | 2,352 |
| Social Studies Teacher Education | 1,963 |
| Art Teacher Education | 1,860 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education | 1,051 |
| Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education | 1,022 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
