HEALTH Specialization

Health Professions

Health Professions graduates earn $68,245 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $47,984 and $89,146. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.

About Health Professions

This page covers Health Professions as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Health and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Health Professions is a focused area of study within Health. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $68,245 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 270 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 7,387 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. Training is clinical and hands-on, often leading to licensure or certification.


Median Earnings · 1yr
$38,099
Median Earnings · 4yr
$68,245
Colleges Offering
270
Graduates / Year
7,387
Avg Net Price / yr
$21,602

How Much Do Health Professions Graduates Earn?

Four years after finishing Health Professions, a typical graduate earns $68,245, above the national median for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $47,984 and $89,146, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $38,099 at one year out to $68,245 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.

What that figure means in practice depends on what the degree cost to get, which is a matter of lifetime earnings against total outlay.

$38,099
1 Year After Graduation

Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.

$68,245
4-Year National Median

Above the national median for college graduates.

$64,205
4-Year Institutional Median

Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.


Earnings Range

Not every Health Professions graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Specialization and credential level drive most of the gap. Advanced practice roles (nurse practitioners, CRNAs, physician assistants) anchor the top; entry-level clinical and support roles sit at the bottom.


A Solid Financial Return

Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $68,245 and an estimated $86,408 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 2.3 years.

Based on outcomes from 143 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 7,387 students who complete Health Professions programs each year, the majority (57%) earn a bachelor's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

Bachelor's 57%
Associate's 18%
Master's 13%

What Can You Do With a Health Professions Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Health Professions graduates show up in 8 different occupations, and Cardiologist pays the most at $496,010/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what a Cardiologist earns and how fast the role is growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↗ +4.8%
$496,010
$274K $610K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 500 openings/yr 17K employed nationally
↗ +3.4%
$420,860
$217K $506K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 700 openings/yr 27K employed nationally
↗ +3.6%
$391,490
$207K $491K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 1,100 openings/yr 39K employed nationally
↗ +4.0%
$358,550
$181K $531K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 400 openings/yr 14K employed nationally
↗ +3.2%
$335,550
$185K $419K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 900 openings/yr 33K employed nationally
↗ +6.8%
$328,730
$140K $452K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 400 openings/yr 11K employed nationally
↗ +4.8%
$312,400
$186K $373K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 300 openings/yr 11K employed nationally
↗ +4.5%
$300,080
$174K $422K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 200 openings/yr 9K employed nationally

Top Colleges for Health Professions

Not sure where to study Health Professions? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

Ranked by score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at Quinnipiac University, and the rest follow the same measures.

# College Graduates Acceptance Net Price/yr Earnings 10yr
1 Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT · Nonprofit 284 72.2% $40,675 $83,759
2 Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LA · Nonprofit 266 14% $39,949 $63,268
3 University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Cincinnati, OH · Public 184 85.3% $25,648 $54,810
4 Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI · Public 183 83% $16,317 $56,118
5 Oakland University Rochester Hills, MI · Public 181 87.8% $9,120 $58,612
6 Boise State University Boise, ID · Public 160 87.2% $21,610 $51,658
7 Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · Nonprofit 140 88.8% $29,689 $86,881
8 Gannon University Erie, PA · Nonprofit 132 74.2% $22,553 $58,845
9 Indian Capital Technology Center-Muskogee Muskogee, OK · Public 111 Open $4,895 $33,208
10 Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA · Public 106 90.4% $14,638 $54,914
11 Clemson University Clemson, SC · Public 105 38.3% $22,253 $71,513
12 Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg, PA · Public 102 93.1% $15,699 $52,416
13 Mercy University Dobbs Ferry, NY · Nonprofit 102 85.8% $14,072 $52,055
14 Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI · Public 97 91.4% $8,624 $54,735
15 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA · Public 91 58.1% $30,434 $66,125
16 East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TN · Public 89 86.2% $15,983 $44,859
17 George Mason University Fairfax, VA · Public 88 87.5% $17,915 $76,343
18 Messiah University Mechanicsburg, PA · Nonprofit 87 79% $26,502 $54,064
19 Rowan University Glassboro, NJ · Public 86 77.7% $22,408 $59,988
20 Long Island University Brookville, NY · Nonprofit 84 86.2% $33,062 $59,950

Ranked by Health Professions graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

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 Professions program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

Health Professions Degree: Pros & Cons

Strong earnings and positive career growth make Health Professions a solid option. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are data-sourced from College Scorecard, BLS, and IPEDS.

PROS
  • Above-average earnings Four-year median of $68,245 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science programs.
  • Strong salary growth Median earnings climb from $38,099 at graduation to $68,245 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
  • Positive job outlook Related careers project up to +6.8% job growth over the next 10 years, a solid signal for long-term demand.
  • Flexible credential paths Programs are available from certificate and associate levels through bachelor's and graduate degrees, giving students real options based on timeline and goals.
CONS
  • Licensure often required Most roles in this field require state licensure or certification before you can practice. Budget time and costs for board exams alongside your degree.

Health Professions Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Health Professions graduates earn?
$68,245 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $47,984 and $89,146, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Health Professions degree?
$38,099 in the first year out. That grows to $68,245 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Health Professions degree?
Cardiologist is one path, and it pays a median of $496,010 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Health Professions program take?
Four years of full-time study for a Health Professions bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Health Professions?
270 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Health Professions degree worth it?
$68,245 median earnings four years out against $21,602 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Health Professions and Health?
Health Professions is the narrower of the two: Health covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Health Professions-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Health Professions graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Health Professions graduates consistently look for clinical judgment, patient communication, and evidence-based decision-making. Licensure, certifications, and supervised clinical hours are typically required or strongly preferred in most roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Health Professions graduates?
Often, yes. Advanced degrees in this field (nurse practitioner, physician assistant, doctor of physical therapy) typically come with significantly higher pay and a wider scope of practice, which is why most students in health fields eventually go back for one. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Health Professions graduates?
Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +4.4% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Dermatologists are among the strongest-growth roles at +6.8%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.

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