by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Public Health Education and Promotion explores Public Health Education And Promotion. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Educational And Communications Principles And Methods To The Promotion Of Preventive Health Measures And The Education Of Targeted Populations On Health Issues, And Prepares Individuals To Function As Public Health Educators And Health Promotion Specialists. Includes Instruction In Human Development, Health Issues Across The Life Span, Population-Specific Health Issues, Principles And Methods Of Public Health Education, Administration Of Health Education Campaigns And Programs, Evaluation Methods, Public Communications, And Applications To Specific Public Health Subjects And Issues. Read on to learn the essential details every public health education and promotion major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering public health education and promotion programs.
In the U.S., public health education and promotion is a widely-pursued major, with 3,785 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Public Health Education and Promotion Schools ranking analyzes these 157 schools to determine the best overall colleges for public health education and promotion students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of public health education and promotion programs later in this article.
Programs in Public Health Education and Promotion emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations public health education and promotion graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a public health education and promotion program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a public health education and promotion major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several public health education and promotion 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 15 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 121 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,423 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,141 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 85 |
People currently working in careers related to public health education and promotion 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in public health education and promotion careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in public health education and promotion prepares you for many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to public health education and promotion.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to public health education and promotion.
| 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% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of public health education and promotion graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 public health education and promotion graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers public health education and promotion 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 157 different public health education and promotion programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased public health education and promotion school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in public health education and promotion, 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, 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 |
| Maternal and Child Health | 180 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
