by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Health Law covers Health Law. An Advanced, Professional Study Of The Law, Policies And Regulations Affecting The Health Care Industry, Health Professions, Health Services And Insurance Industries, And Patients. Examples: [Health Law (Ll.m., M.j.)], [Health Law (J.s.d./s.j.d.)], [Healthcare Compliance Law], [Mental Disability Law]. Read on to learn the essential details every health law major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering health law programs.
Across the country, health law is a popular field of study, with 539 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Health Law Schools ranking analyzes these 20 schools to determine the best overall colleges for health law students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of health law programs later in this article.
Studies in Health Law build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations health law graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a health law program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a health law major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several health law 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 | 539 |
People currently working in careers related to health law tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| First professional degree | 43.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 40.6% |
| Master’s degree | 13.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.9% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in health law careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying health law can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to health law.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to health law.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,017,747 | -2.9% |
| Lawyers | 155,305 | 2.6% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of health law graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $78,306 |
| 4 years | $93,383 |
| 5 years | $107,509 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for health law graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers health law grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,726 |
| Lawyers | $73,181 |
With 20 different health law programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased health law school rankings to help you.
Students interested in health law, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
