GRADUATE/PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 5122

Public Health: is this graduate/professional certificate worth it?

National picture across 9 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$95,664 in median year-4 earnings

A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.

$95,664Median year-4 earnings
$24,674Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →
A PRACTICAL READ

Four useful answers about Public Health

How much do Public Health graduate/professional certificate graduates earn?

The national median is $95,664 four years after completion across reportable graduate/professional certificate programs in this federal field.

How much federal debt do graduates have?

A national median federal-debt figure is not reportable for this degree in the current release.

Does the college matter for Public Health?

Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $74,144 to $117,656 in observed year-4 earnings.

What careers are related to Public Health?

DegreeVerdict links this field to 12 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$95,664Median reported earnings · year 4
$110,619Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
74thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
4IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
9With year-4 earnings

The award total covers 1 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

The same field can produce a different equation.

Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.

OPEN PROFILE

Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma

Year-4 earnings
$36,698
Federal debt
$17,726
Reporting programs
8
7 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$43,403
Federal debt
$21,789
Reporting programs
22
21 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$57,499
Federal debt
$25,875
Reporting programs
256
217 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Post-baccalaureate Certificate

Year-4 earnings
$77,605
Federal debt
$20,716
Reporting programs
8
8 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$79,533
Federal debt
Not available
Reporting programs
207
207 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Doctoral Degree

Year-4 earnings
$111,411
Federal debt
Not available
Reporting programs
10
10 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

First Professional Degree

Year-4 earnings
$77,992
Federal debt
Not available
Reporting programs
5
5 report earnings →
CURRENT VIEW

Graduate/Professional Certificate

Year-4 earnings
$95,664
Federal debt
Not available
Reporting programs
9
9 report earnings →
COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

Where the middle half of programs lands

Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.

Median
25th percentile$74,144National median$95,66475th percentile$117,656
9 programs report year‑4 earnings.
DECISION CHECK

What to compare before choosing a program

The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.

$117,65675th-percentile year-4 earnings among reporting programs
Not availableMedian federal debt across programs that report it
0Programs with earnings in the top quarter and debt at or below the median
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP

Where colleges sit for this exact degree

Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.

All reporting colleges Lower-price, higher-earnings quadrantAxes trim the outer 5% for readability; outliers remain pinned to the chart edge. Price is institution-wide context, not exact program tuition.
Compare colleges

Put the same degree side by side.

Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.

Compare 3 programs →
Build your shortlist

Choose colleges offering this exact degree

Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.

9 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
1University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham, AL · PublicYear-4 earnings$140,663Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$18,749
2George Washington UniversityWashington, DC · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$126,738Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$36,586
3New York UniversityNew York, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$117,656Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$37,050
4Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$99,797Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$21,590
5Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$95,664Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$18,809
6University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, MO · PublicYear-4 earnings$81,684Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$20,268
7University at AlbanyAlbany, NY · PublicYear-4 earnings$74,144Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$17,167
8University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusDenver, CO · PublicYear-4 earnings$73,319Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$11,900
9Tulane University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$55,423Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$39,949
Open the full program search →
WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1University of Alabama at Birmingham$140,6632George Washington University$126,7383New York University$117,6564Columbia University in the City of New York$99,7975Johns Hopkins University$95,6646University of Missouri-Columbia$81,6847University at Albany$74,1448University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus$73,3199Tulane University of Louisiana$55,423

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

Career outlook

Related occupations, wages and demand

Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.

Pay and projected demand

Related careers do not share one outlook

Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection

Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$107,310 median wage221,270 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1071+17.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 24.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$59,270$322,020 10th–90th percentileMedical and Health Services Managers$123,860 median wage597,080 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9111+24.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 62.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$73,390$224,340 10th–90th percentileHealth Education Specialists$64,070 median wage65,690 U.S. jobs · SOC 21-1091+5.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 6.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$42,990$118,200 10th–90th percentileCommunity Health Workers$51,850 median wage61,660 U.S. jobs · SOC 21-1094+12.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 7k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$38,810$77,180 10th–90th percentileOccupational Health and Safety Specialists$90,150 median wage140,610 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-5011+18.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 17.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$55,000$134,950 10th–90th percentileOccupational Health and Safety Technicians$61,560 median wage30,590 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-5012+19.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$46,280$100,160 10th–90th percentilePhysicists$172,250 median wage20,430 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-2012+7.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$82,110$274,110 10th–90th percentileMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$103,410 median wage172,340 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1042+12.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 10.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$64,800$177,780 10th–90th percentilePhysics Teachers, Postsecondary$100,310 median wage13,090 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1054+2.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$60,200$177,850 10th–90th percentileGenetic Counselors$100,040 median wage3,740 U.S. jobs · SOC 29-9092+10.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$78,270$138,760 10th–90th percentileEpidemiologists$87,220 median wage12,090 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1041+18.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$61,270$138,800 10th–90th percentileEnvironmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$82,220 median wage89,250 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-2041+6.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 7.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$52,520$140,010 10th–90th percentile

BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.

BEST COLLEGES FOR PUBLIC HEALTH

Same degree, different outcomes

Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.

#CollegeLocationEarnings, year 4Federal debtROI statusCost context
1University of Alabama at BirminghamGraduate/Professional CertificateBirmingham, AL$140,663Not availableWithheldBaseline needed$18,749
2George Washington UniversityGraduate/Professional CertificateWashington, DC$126,738Not availableWithheldBaseline needed$36,586
3New York UniversityGraduate/Professional CertificateNew York, NY$117,656Not availableWithheldBaseline needed$37,050
4Columbia University in the City of New YorkGraduate/Professional CertificateNew York, NY$99,797Not availableWithheldBaseline needed$21,590
5Johns Hopkins UniversityGraduate/Professional CertificateBaltimore, MD$95,664Not availableWithheldBaseline needed$18,809
6University of Missouri-ColumbiaGraduate/Professional CertificateColumbia, MO$81,684Not availableWithheldBaseline needed$20,268
7University at AlbanyGraduate/Professional CertificateAlbany, NY$74,144Not availableWithheldBaseline needed$17,167
8University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusGraduate/Professional CertificateDenver, CO$73,319Not availableWithheldBaseline needed$11,900
9Tulane University of LouisianaGraduate/Professional CertificateNew Orleans, LA$55,423Not availableWithheldBaseline needed$39,949

This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.