by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Maternal and Child Health covers Maternal And Child Health. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Public Health Specializations, Public Policy Studies, And The Social And Behavioral Sciences To Issues Of Health Affecting Women, Children, And Families; And Prepares Individuals To Function As Maternal And Child Health Specialists. Includes Instruction In Research Design And Testing, Program Evaluation, Public Policy Analysis, Public Finance, Economics Of Health Care, Community Health, Family Development And Dynamics, Women's Studies, Social Psychology, Fetal And Child Development, Biostatistics, Health Education And Promotion, Nutrition, Neonatal Development, Psychology, And Social Services Delivery. Read on to learn the important information every maternal and child health major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering maternal and child health programs.
In the U.S., maternal and child health is a widely-pursued major, with 180 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Maternal and Child Health Schools ranking analyzes these 20 schools to determine the best overall colleges for maternal and child health students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of maternal and child health programs later in this article.
Coursework for Maternal and Child Health build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations maternal and child health graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a maternal and child health program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a maternal and child health major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several maternal and child health 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 | 3 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 160 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 17 |
People currently working in careers related to maternal and child health tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 29.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 20.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 18.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 14.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 13.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.5% |
| Some college courses | 0.4% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in maternal and child health careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying maternal and child health opens doors to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to maternal and child health.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to maternal and child health.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Community Health Workers | 300,538 | 13.4% |
| Health Education Specialists | 169,157 | 3.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of maternal and child health graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $50,939 |
| 4 years | $60,432 |
| 5 years | $70,561 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for maternal and child health graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers maternal and child health grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Education Specialists | $81,726 |
| Community Health Workers | $73,901 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 20 different maternal and child health programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased maternal and child health school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in maternal and child health, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Health, General | 25,004 |
| Public Health Education and Promotion | 3,785 |
| Public Health, Other | 2,803 |
| Health Services Administration | 2,629 |
| Community Health and Preventive Medicine | 2,571 |
| International Public Health/International Health | 1,500 |
| Environmental Health | 1,269 |
| Behavioral Aspects of Health | 623 |
| Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene | 313 |
| Health/Medical Physics | 288 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
