HEALTH
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HEALTH
Health
Salary data, career paths, top colleges, and every specialization, all sourced from College Scorecard, IPEDS, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
About Health
Wondering whether Health is worth studying? What matters is what graduates actually earn, where they end up working, and which colleges produce the most of them. Most graduates end up in this field, so it is worth knowing what a Cardiologist earns and how the role is projected to grow.
Every clinical and administrative healthcare career starts here. Nursing, medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, dentistry, and public health administration. Four years after finishing the degree, graduates in this field earn a national median of $61,296, per College Scorecard. You can study it at 3,924 colleges and universities across the country, so location is rarely the limiting factor. About 964,272 students complete a degree in this area every year.
- Median Earnings · 1yr
- $61,935
- Median Earnings · 4yr
- $61,296
- Colleges Offering
- 3,924
- Graduates / Year
- 964,272
- Specializations
- 26
- Avg Net Price / yr
- $22,329
Is a Health Degree Right for You?
$61,296
Median earnings · 4yr
+4.8%
10yr job growth
26
Specializations
Is the Investment Worth It?
Breaks even in
~2.9
yrs
vs $30K/yr baseline wage
Solid ROI. Median earnings of $61,296 after 4 years. Against an estimated $89,316 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 2.9 years.
ROI varies significantly by specialization and institution. A top program in a high-demand specialization can return many multiples of its cost. A lower-tier program in a saturated field may take a decade to break even. Use the Specializations and Best Colleges sections above to compare your specific options before deciding.
How Much Do Health Majors Earn?
Pay for Health graduates climbs fast in the first few years out. The median start is $61,935 one year after graduation, rising to $61,296 by year four, so the early salary is not the ceiling. Source: College Scorecard, across all 3,924 US institutions offering programs in this field.
$61,935
1 Year After Graduation
Median at the institutional level. Entry-level salaries; reflects career start, not peak earnings.
$61,296
4-Year National Median
Enrollment-weighted national median across all institutions. Most graduates have 2-3 years of career experience at this point.
$71,825
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size. Closer to what a typical school's graduates earn.
Earnings Range Across Specializations
Not all Health specializations pay the same. The most lucrative programs pay $116,539/yr nationally, while the lowest-earning specializations average $36,371/yr. See the Specializations section below for a program-by-program breakdown.
$36,371
Lowest
$61,296
Median
$116,539
Highest
What Can You Do With a Health Degree?
Career Paths for Health Graduates
Studying Health does not lock you into one job title. It opens 8 occupations tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from entry-level roles to senior ones, and Cardiologist pays the most among them at a median $496,010 a year. Each row below adds national wages, employment levels, and the 10-year growth outlook so you can weigh the rest.
Another common path leads to what Radiologists typically earn and how the field is trending.
Cardiologist
Doctoral or professional degree
$496,010
↗ +4.8% growth
Radiologists
Doctoral or professional degree
$420,860
↗ +3.4% growth
Anesthesiologists
Doctoral or professional degree
$391,490
↗ +3.6% growth
Orthopedic Surgeons
Doctoral or professional degree
$358,550
↗ +4.0% growth
Emergency Medicine Physicians
Doctoral or professional degree
$335,550
↗ +3.2% growth
Dermatologists
Doctoral or professional degree
$328,730
↗ +6.8% growth
Physicians
Doctoral or professional degree
$312,400
↗ +4.8% growth
Ophthalmologists
Doctoral or professional degree
$300,080
↗ +4.5% growth
Health Specializations
Which specialization you pick inside Health matters more than usual here. Health breaks into 31 specializations, and four-year earnings swing from $36,371 to $116,539 depending on which one you choose. Each row below links to a full program profile, sorted highest-paying first. Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying specialization is the cost and outcomes for a Pharmacy program, which is worth a closer look before settling on the broader field.
Specialization
Colleges
Grads/yr
Earnings · 4yr
Best Colleges for Health
These are the 20 colleges that graduate the most students in Health, ranked by how many completed the degree in the most recent reporting year, not by selectivity or prestige. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate for each one come from College Scorecard and IPEDS.
By that measure, the list starts with the cost and admissions data for Chamberlain University-Illinois.
1
Chamberlain University-Illinois
Addison, IL · For-Profit
Acceptance
82.6%
Net price/yr
$31,837
Earnings 10yr
$92,405
Grad rate
50%
2
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN · Public
Acceptance
Open
Net price/yr
$7,258
Earnings 10yr
$37,186
Grad rate
15%
3
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ · Nonprofit
Acceptance
78.9%
Net price/yr
$22,472
Earnings 10yr
$42,186
Grad rate
42%
4
Ultimate Medical Academy
Clearwater, FL · Nonprofit
Acceptance
Open
Net price/yr
$20,457
Earnings 10yr
$29,194
Grad rate
61%
5
The University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX · Public
Acceptance
79.9%
Net price/yr
$13,951
Earnings 10yr
$63,199
Grad rate
55%
6
DeVry University-Illinois
Lisle, IL · For-Profit
Acceptance
98.4%
Net price/yr
$30,770
Earnings 10yr
$45,987
Grad rate
20%
7
Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, NH · Nonprofit
Acceptance
99.5%
Net price/yr
$36,708
Earnings 10yr
$50,318
Grad rate
30%
8
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, FL · Nonprofit
Acceptance
97%
Net price/yr
$30,498
Earnings 10yr
$39,696
Grad rate
41%
9
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL · Public
Acceptance
43.2%
Net price/yr
$9,812
Earnings 10yr
$57,743
Grad rate
68%
10
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL · Public
Acceptance
40.1%
Net price/yr
$10,411
Earnings 10yr
$58,308
Grad rate
55%
11
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, FL · Nonprofit
Acceptance
73.2%
Net price/yr
$30,371
Earnings 10yr
$59,209
Grad rate
60%
12
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Cincinnati, OH · Public
Acceptance
85.3%
Net price/yr
$25,648
Earnings 10yr
$54,810
Grad rate
49%
13
Ohio University-Main Campus
Athens, OH · Public
Acceptance
85%
Net price/yr
$21,637
Earnings 10yr
$52,581
Grad rate
54%
14
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL · Public
Acceptance
88.2%
Net price/yr
$18,749
Earnings 10yr
$54,501
Grad rate
54%
15
Ohio State University-Main Campus
Columbus, OH · Public
Acceptance
60.6%
Net price/yr
$17,339
Earnings 10yr
$60,409
Grad rate
66%
16
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ · Public
Acceptance
58.2%
Net price/yr
$24,406
Earnings 10yr
$74,479
Grad rate
73%
17
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL · Public
Acceptance
24.2%
Net price/yr
$6,541
Earnings 10yr
$71,588
Grad rate
83%
18
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA · Nonprofit
Acceptance
99%
Net price/yr
$29,357
Earnings 10yr
$44,813
Grad rate
34%
19
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD · Nonprofit
Acceptance
6.4%
Net price/yr
$18,809
Earnings 10yr
$87,555
Grad rate
87%
20
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Boston, MA · Nonprofit
Acceptance
85.2%
Net price/yr
$39,545
Earnings 10yr
$125,557
Grad rate
77%
Ranked by number of Health graduates per IPEDS completion data. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate from College Scorecard. Read our methodology →
How Health Compares to Similar Majors
Major
$30k
$40k
$50k
$60k
$70k
$80k
$90k
$100k
Plan Your Path
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Health degree, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if a Health degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Health Degree: Pros & Cons
Health is a mixed case: real strengths, offset by real trade-offs, and neither side is large enough to settle the decision on its own. All 6 points below are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, Bureau of Labor Statistics projections, and IPEDS graduate counts, with no editorial opinion added.
PROS
- Above-average earnings Four-year median of $61,296 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science fields.
- Positive job outlook Related careers project up to +6.8% job growth over the next decade per BLS data.
- Wide availability Offered at 3,924 colleges nationwide, including community colleges and online programs.
- High-earning specializations available Top specializations report median earnings of $116,539, creating strong upside for students who choose a high-demand track.
CONS
- Highly competitive job market Approximately 964,272 students graduate in this field each year, one of the highest volumes among all majors.
- High variance across specializations The gap between the lowest-paying ($36,371) and highest-paying ($116,539) specializations is large. Choosing a lower-demand track significantly reduces expected returns.
Health Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Health graduates earn?
$61,296 a year four years after finishing the degree. That is the national median, so half of graduates earn more and half earn less, and specialization, institution, and region move the number a lot. Use the specializations table on this page to see which tracks pay above and below it. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Health degree?
About $61,935 in the first year out, at the institutional level. That is an early number, not a ceiling, and it moves with employer, location, and which specialization within Health you picked. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Health degree?
More than one path, so the degree does not lock you into a single title. Cardiologist pays the most among related roles, at a median $496,010 a year nationally, but it is one option among several. See the Career Paths section on this page for the full list with employment levels and 10-year growth projections. Source: BLS.
How many colleges offer Health?
3,924 colleges and universities in the United States, so location is rarely the limiting factor. Options run from community colleges offering associate degrees to research universities with doctoral programs, so the harder choice is which type of school fits, not whether one is nearby. The Best Colleges section on this page ranks the top institutions by graduation volume. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Health degree worth it?
For most students, yes, though the margin depends on which specialization and school you pick. Median 4-year earnings run $61,296 against an average net price of roughly $22,329 a year across institutions that offer this major, and high-earning specializations widen that gap considerably. Compare your specific program before assuming the average applies to you.
How long does it take to earn a Health degree?
Four years for most bachelor's programs in Health, though clinical hours or extra prerequisites can stretch that for some specializations. Community colleges offer associate versions in two years, which is the faster route into entry-level roles.
What skills do employers look for in Health graduates?
Employers hiring Health graduates consistently prioritize clinical judgment, patient communication, evidence-based decision-making, and regulatory compliance. Licensure, certifications, or supervised clinical hours are typically required or strongly preferred in most roles.
Is graduate school worth it for Health graduates?
In health fields, advanced degrees (nurse practitioner, physician assistant, doctor of physical therapy, MD) typically unlock significantly higher salaries and expanded scope of practice, making graduate education a strong investment for most students. The right answer depends on your career goals, program cost, and whether your target role explicitly requires or rewards an advanced credential.
What is the 10-year job outlook for Health graduates?
Outlook is moderate: related occupations project an average of +4.4% growth over the next decade. Dermatologists leads the group at +6.8%. Demand still swings by specialization, employer sector, and region, so treat this as a starting point rather than a guarantee. Source: BLS.
Related Findings
-
All 38 Majors, Ranked by What Graduates Earn
The highest-earning college major out-pays the lowest by a factor of two and a half. The full ranking of all 38 fields by median graduate earnings, with job growth alongside.
- Major earnings
- Highest paying majors
- Job growth
- STEM
- Field of study
-
The Most Common Majors vs the Most Lucrative
The five most-awarded majors graduate 2.9 million students a year, yet only one of them cracks the top five by pay. Popularity and paychecks barely overlap.
- Most common majors
- Major earnings
- Completions
- Popular degrees
- Major pay gap
-
The Nursing-School Effect, Why Health Colleges Dominate the Earnings Charts
Health and nursing-named colleges earn 27 percent above the average school, and hospital-run nursing schools turn that into the steepest returns in the data.
- Nursing schools
- Health colleges
- Earnings
- College ROI
- Registered nurse
Continue Exploring
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Colleges
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Majors
Explore 38 fields of study spanning STEM, health, business, and the humanities. See earnings, top programs, and demand.
Programs
Browse 375 specific degree programs. See completion counts, earnings outcomes, and the colleges awarding the most graduates each year.
Careers
Look up 395 BLS occupations. Get median wages, growth projections, education requirements, and the majors leading to each career.