by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Health Professions Education involves the study of A Program That Focuses On Education And Administration Leadership Skills For Clinical Educators Across Health Professions And Specialties. Includes Instruction In Academic Leadership, Assessment, Clinical Decision Making, Curriculum Development, Ethics, Primary Care Education, Program Evaluation, Research Methods, And Statistics. Examples: [Teaching Certificate For Pharmacists], [Medical Education Teaching]. Continue reading for the key facts every health professions education student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering health professions education programs.
Across the country, health professions education is a widely-pursued major, with 102 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Health Professions Education Schools ranking analyzes these 17 schools to determine the best overall colleges for health professions education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of health professions education programs later in this article.
Studies in Health Professions Education build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations health professions education graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a health professions education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a health professions education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several health professions 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 80 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 22 |
People currently working in careers related to health professions education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 57.9% |
| Master’s degree | 23.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 6.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in health professions education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in health professions education prepares you for many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to health professions education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to health professions education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | 237,062 | -1.7% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of health professions education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $91,596 |
| 4 years | $89,352 |
| 5 years | $98,782 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for health professions education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers health professions education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $161,927 |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 17 different health professions education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased health professions education school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in health professions education, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Nursing Education | 3,933 |
| Bioethics/Medical Ethics | 757 |
| Medical/Health Humanities | 352 |
| Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities, Other | 101 |
| Arts in Medicine/Health | 5 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
