by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Health Policy Analysis explores Health Policy Analysis. A Program That Focuses On The Systematic Analysis Of Public Policy Issues Related To Domestic And International Health And Health Care Systems. Includes Instruction In Contemporary Health Issues And Policies, Politics And Economics Of Health Care Delivery, Epidemiology, Public Health, Comparative And Global Health, Medical Law And Ethics, Statistical Methods, And Applications To Specific Public Policy Topics. Continue reading for the key facts every health policy analysis student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering health policy analysis programs.
Across the country, health policy analysis is a popular field of study, with 301 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Health Policy Analysis Schools ranking analyzes these 24 schools to determine the best overall colleges for health policy analysis students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of health policy analysis programs later in this article.
Programs in Health Policy Analysis build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations health policy analysis graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a health policy analysis program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a health policy analysis major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several health policy analysis 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 | 116 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 174 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 11 |
People currently working in careers related to health policy analysis tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 33.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 24.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 16.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 13.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.5% |
| Some college courses | 1.5% |
| First professional degree | 0.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in health policy analysis careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying health policy analysis opens doors to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to health policy analysis.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to health policy analysis.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 419,330 | 8.8% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 153,535 | 4.7% |
| Transportation Planners | 43,539 | 4.1% |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | 24,588 | 6.1% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of health policy analysis graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $60,429 |
| 4 years | $83,181 |
| 5 years | $95,174 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for health policy analysis graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers health policy analysis grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Transportation Planners | $50,855 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $42,168 |
| Social Science Research Assistants | $41,630 |
With 24 different health policy analysis programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased health policy analysis school rankings to help you.
Students interested in health policy analysis, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Policy Analysis, General | 5,419 |
| International Policy Analysis | 276 |
| Education Policy Analysis | 104 |
| Public Policy Analysis, Other | 83 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
