by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Hospice and Palliative Care involves the study of A Program Of Study That Prepares Individuals To Work With Patients In Hospice And Palliative Care And Focuses On The Physical, Psychological, Spiritual, And Social Needs Of Patients And Families Affected By Advanced Illness. Includes Instruction In Aging, Thanatology, Pharmacology, Complementary And Integrative Therapies, Pathophysiology, And Ethics. Continue reading for the essential details every hospice and palliative care student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering hospice and palliative care programs.
Across the country, hospice and palliative care draws strong interest, with 3 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Hospice and Palliative Care Schools ranking analyzes these 1 schools to determine the best overall colleges for hospice and palliative care students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of hospice and palliative care programs later in this article.
Coursework for Hospice and Palliative Care develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations hospice and palliative care graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a hospice and palliative care program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a hospice and palliative care major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several hospice and palliative care 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 | 3 |
People currently working in careers related to hospice and palliative care tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 70.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 11.1% |
| First professional degree | 3.7% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in hospice and palliative care careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in hospice and palliative care prepares you for many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to hospice and palliative care.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to hospice and palliative care.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Social Workers | 251,555 | 12.1% |
| Social Workers, All Other | 142,086 | 4.8% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of hospice and palliative care graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $46,066 |
| 4 years | $46,824 |
| 5 years | $52,641 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for hospice and palliative care graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers hospice and palliative care grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Healthcare Social Workers | $78,044 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $62,827 |
With 1 different hospice and palliative care programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased hospice and palliative care school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in hospice and palliative care, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mental Health Counseling/Counselor | 10,855 |
| Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling | 6,135 |
| Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling | 4,476 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions, Other | 3,545 |
| Clinical/Medical Social Work | 3,296 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician | 2,601 |
| Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling | 2,298 |
| Genetic Counseling/Counselor | 378 |
| Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling | 187 |
| Trauma Counseling | 161 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
