Public Health programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 894 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best public health schools.
No school ranked higher than Georgetown University this year for public health. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 42 public health students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from Georgetown University earn around $50,415 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
See the full public health program report for Georgetown University
Johns Hopkins University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public health, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 530 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $36,540 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,750 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University
A rank of #3 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the top schools for public health. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 170 public health degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Graduates of the public health program make about $48,351 in their early career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $11,729 in student loans.
See the full public health program report for University Of California Berkeley
Students looking for a strong public health program will find one at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 52 public health students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $61,010 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,273 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public health program at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Cornell University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public health, ranking #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 83 public health students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $44,516 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,133 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public health from Cornell University
Tufts University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best public health schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 129 public health degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $53,372. Typical student debt for the program is $18,250.
More information about a degree in public health from Tufts University
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #7 for public health this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 345 public health students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $46,016 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,490.
See the full public health program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of California San Diego earned the #8 position for public health this year. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. About 86% of students finish within six years. University Of California San Diego awarded about 325 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $39,144 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,280.
Read more about the public health program at University Of California San Diego
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #9 position for public health this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 228 public health degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Public Health graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $42,790 early in their careers. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $19,689 in student loans.
See the full public health program report for Indiana University Bloomington
Lehigh University landed the #10 spot for public health this year. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 50 public health students who graduated with this degree at Lehigh University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from Lehigh University earn around $70,321 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public health from Lehigh University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #11 among the best public health schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 163 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $40,564 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,678 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public health from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
George Washington University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best public health schools. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 216 public health degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Public Health graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $44,809 early in their careers. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $23,822 in student loans.
See the full public health program report for George Washington University
California State University Chico ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best public health schools. This large public university is located in the city of Chico. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 130 public health students who graduated with this degree at California State University Chico in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from California State University Chico earn around $45,339 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Chico graduates carry a median of $20,750 in student loans.
See the full public health program report for California State University Chico
San Diego State University earned the #14 position for public health this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 184 public health degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Public Health graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $41,092 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,812 to complete this degree.
Get the full public health details for San Diego State University
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #15 position for public health this year. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. Rutgers University New Brunswick awarded about 358 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn around $45,408 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Read more about the public health program at Rutgers University New Brunswick
Cuny Graduate School And University Center ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best public health schools. Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public school located in the city of New York. There were roughly 126 public health students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Cuny Graduate School And University Center generally make around $74,028. Cuny Graduate School And University Center graduates carry a median of $17,921 in student loans.
Read more about the public health program at Cuny Graduate School And University Center
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #17 among the best public health schools. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 105 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $66,357. Typical student debt for the program is $23,393.
See the full public health program report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
California State University Sacramento landed the #18 spot for public health this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 144 public health students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $49,907. Typical student debt for the program is $17,492.
Get the full public health details for California State University Sacramento
San Jose State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best public health schools. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 170 public health students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
Get the full public health details for San Jose State University
University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #20 for public health this year. University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 19 public health students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $40,920. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates carry a median of $18,559 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public health from University Of California Santa Cruz
University Of California Irvine ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best public health schools. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. About 87% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 442 public health students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $35,463 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,285 to complete this degree.
Get the full public health details for University Of California Irvine
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #22 position for public health this year. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 330 public health students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $39,584 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,856 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public health from Texas A And M University College Station
University Of Southern California landed the #23 spot for public health this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 351 public health degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $36,300. Students borrow a median of $15,250 to complete this degree.
See the full public health program report for University Of Southern California
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #24 among the best public health schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 106 public health students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $36,226. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
Get the full public health details for Ohio State University Main Campus
Santa Clara University placed #25 among the best public health schools. Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 public health students who graduated with this degree at Santa Clara University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $47,274 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500.
More information about a degree in public health from Santa Clara University
Rest of the Top 50 Public Health Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong public health education:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 894 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
