Degree Guide · Undergraduate
Bachelor's in Public Health
What Is a Bachelor of Public Health Degree?
A bachelor of public health is an undergraduate major in how communities stay healthy: disease prevention, health data, health behavior, policy and the health system. Schools award it as a BS, a BA or a BSPH, and 445 US schools awarded 18,738 of these degrees in 2022-23. On its own it qualifies you for entry-level roles such as health education specialist; for epidemiology and most senior public health jobs you'll want an MPH, and 175 of those schools also offer an MPH listed on this site.
A public health bachelor’s is one of the most common routes into the field, and far more common than most people expect. In 2022-23, 445 schools nationwide awarded 18,738 public health bachelor’s degrees as a first major. Public universities awarded 14,664 of them, private nonprofits 3,486 and for-profit schools 588. California led with 3,278, followed by Texas (1,365), Florida (1,115) and New York (1,029).
The degree is also a common first step toward a graduate degree. Of those 445 schools, 175 also offer an MPH listed on this site, so you can often finish your bachelor’s and move straight into a master’s at the same school, sometimes with graduate credits counting toward both.
What a Bachelor of Public Health Degree Covers
A bachelor of public health degree teaches you how to protect the health of whole populations rather than treat one patient at a time. CEPH, the accreditor for public health education, spells out what an accredited public health bachelor’s has to teach. Inside an accredited school or program, the major must cover basic statistics, biological and life sciences, the history and core functions of public health, how health data are collected and analyzed, population health, the science of human health and disease, the social, behavioral and environmental factors behind health disparities, how to plan and evaluate a health project, and how the US health system compares with other countries.
Two requirements shape what your final year looks like. Every student completes a capstone: an internship, a service-learning project, a senior seminar, a portfolio, a research paper or an honors thesis. Programs are also expected to put you in contact with local public health professionals or agencies. If you’re comparing undergraduate public health programs, ask to see the capstone options, because that’s where you’ll build the experience employers and MPH admissions committees read.
The largest group carries the general label “Public Health, General” in federal data: 10,917 degrees in 2022-23. The next largest are Public Health Education and Promotion (2,578), Public Health, Other (1,476), Community Health and Preventive Medicine (1,364) and Health Services Administration (1,200). Smaller tracks include Environmental Health (369), International Public Health (344) and Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene (106).
Is Public Health a Bachelor of Science?
Often, but not always. CEPH counts a BSPH, a BS and a BA as public health bachelor’s degrees as long as they’re offered in a public health discipline. The letters tell you how much lab science sits underneath the public health core, and some schools offer both.
| Degree | What it adds to the public health core | Example |
|---|---|---|
| BS in Public Health | Foundational biology, chemistry and physics, plus advanced science such as organic chemistry and anatomy and physiology | University of South Carolina BS; University of Arizona BS, with seven emphases |
| BA in Public Health | Humanities and social and behavioral sciences, with more room for electives | University of South Carolina BA; Arizona’s BA in Wellness and Health Promotion Practice |
| BS and BA split by focus | Separate degrees for the science side and the policy side | UC Irvine BS in Public Health Sciences and BA in Public Health Policy |
| BSPH | A Bachelor of Science in Public Health title used by some accredited programs | CUNY York College’s BSPH in Community Health |
Pick the BS if you might apply to medical, dental, PA or other clinical programs. South Carolina says its BS gives you room to complete prerequisites for health-related graduate and professional programs. Pick the BA if you’re drawn to policy, communication or community work and don’t want a chemistry sequence. Either one prepares you for an MPH.
What CEPH Accreditation Means for a Bachelor’s
CEPH accredits three kinds of units: schools of public health, public health programs and standalone baccalaureate programs. The standalone category exists for colleges that teach public health to undergraduates but don’t have a CEPH-accredited graduate degree. Those programs meet a separate set of criteria: 15 required content domains, from public health ethics to policy analysis and statistical literacy (odds ratios, relative risk, Excel), plus required hands-on learning where watching alone doesn’t count, and a culminating experience.
Only 29 programs hold standalone baccalaureate accreditation, and they’re listed in full on this page. Several are large. East Carolina University awarded 268 public health bachelor’s degrees in 2022-23 and its BS in Public Health Studies has been accredited since 2014. Rutgers’ undergraduate public health program also dates to 2014, and UT Austin’s program was accredited in 2023.
A short list doesn’t mean few good programs. South Carolina, Maryland and UC Irvine aren’t on the standalone list, but each has a CEPH-accredited school or program, and CEPH’s criteria for those units include the public health bachelor’s degrees they offer. For a bachelor’s, CEPH status mostly matters as a quality signal. It carries more weight at the MPH level, where some federal, military, state and local public health jobs require a degree from a CEPH-accredited school or program. The CEPH accreditation guide explains how to check a school’s status.
Largest Public Health Bachelor's Programs
Schools that awarded the most public health bachelor's degrees in 2022-23, across 445 schools nationwide. Where the same school has an MPH on this site, the link goes to its profile.
| School | State | Bachelor's awarded | MPH here |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | South Carolina | 435 | 8 MPHs, online option |
| University of Maryland-College Park | Maryland | 415 | 2 MPHs, online option |
| University of California-Irvine | California | 392 | 1 MPH |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | New Jersey | 361 | 3 MPHs, online option |
| California State University-Fullerton | California | 358 | 1 MPH |
| The University of Texas at Austin | Texas | 313 | |
| University of Nevada-Reno | Nevada | 310 | 3 MPHs, online option |
| University of California-San Diego | California | 304 | 1 MPH |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus | Washington | 284 | 3 MPHs, online option |
| California State University-Northridge | California | 275 | 2 MPHs, online option |
| East Carolina University | North Carolina | 268 | 1 MPH, online option |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | Massachusetts | 253 | 4 MPHs, online option |
| Wayne State University | Michigan | 246 | 1 MPH |
| Texas A & M University-College Station | Texas | 244 | 2 MPHs, online option |
| Florida State University | Florida | 240 | 1 MPH |
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2022-23 completions, first majors in public health fields (CIP 51.22). The largest field is Public Health, General (10,917 degrees), followed by Public Health Education and Promotion (2,578).
CEPH-Accredited Bachelor's Programs
CEPH accredits 29 standalone baccalaureate programs in public health. Public health bachelor's degrees offered inside a CEPH-accredited school or program of public health are reviewed under that school's or program's accreditation, so this list isn't every accredited option.
| Institution | Program | Next review |
|---|---|---|
| Albany College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences | BS Public Health Program | 7/1/2026 |
| American University | Public Health Program | 7/1/2032 |
| Appalachian State University | Public Health Program | 12/31/2030 |
| Ball State University | BS in Public Health | 07/01/2027 |
| California State University, Chico | BS in Health Education Program | 12/31/2028 |
| Carroll University | Undergraduate Public Health Program | 07/02/2027 |
| Clemson University | Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences | 07/01/2029 |
| College of Charleston | Public Health Program | 7/1/2031 |
| CUNY- York College | BSPH: Community Health | 7/1/2029 |
| East Carolina University | BS in Public Health Studies Program | 12/31/2027 |
| King Faisal University | Bachelor of Science in Public Health Program | 7/1/2030 |
| Oklahoma State University | Bachelor's in Public Health Program | 7/1/2029 |
| Rowan University | BS in Public Health & Wellness Program | 7/1/2030 |
| Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey | Undergraduate Public Health Program | 12/31/2028 |
| Salisbury University | Bachelor of Science in Public Health Program | 12/31/2032 |
| SUNY - Cortland | Community Health Program | 07/01/2029 |
| SUNY - Old Westbury | Bachelor of Science, Public Health | 12/31/2031 |
| Truman State University | BS in Health Science: Community, Worksite & Public Health | 7/1/2028 |
| University of Miami | Bachelor of Science in Public Health Program | 12/31/2030 |
| University of Minnesota Duluth | Public Health Program | 07/01/2027 |
| University of Nebraska at Omaha | Bachelor of Science in Public Health | 12/31/2028 |
| University of North Carolina at Wilmington | Bachelor of Science in Public Health | 12/31/2028 |
| University of Texas at Austin | Public Health Program | 7/1/2031 |
| University of the Incarnate Word | BS in Community Health Education | 07/01/2027 |
| University of Vermont | Bachelor's of Science in Health Sciences | 12/31/2027 |
| University of Wisconsin- La Crosse | BS in Community Health Education Program | 07/01/2027 |
| Utah Valley University | BS in Public Health | 07/01/2027 |
| Western Connecticut State University | Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion Studies | 7/1/2031 |
| Western Washington University | Community Health Program | 12/31/2033 |
What You Can Do With a Public Health Bachelor’s Degree
The clearest job that starts at the bachelor’s level is health education specialist. BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education, usually in health education or health promotion, with some positions requiring a master’s or doctorate. Health education specialists assess what a community needs and build programs, materials and events that teach people about health. Government is the largest employer, at 24%.
| Job | Typical entry education (BLS) | Median pay, May 2025 | Middle 50% earn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health education specialist | Bachelor’s degree | $64,070 | $50,620 to $87,130 |
| Community health worker | High school diploma or equivalent | $51,850 | $45,640 to $62,540 |
Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Community health workers don’t need a degree to start, but a public health bachelor’s gives you the coursework to move from outreach into program planning and evaluation. Health educator employment is projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035.
You can add a credential before you even graduate. NCHEC’s CHES exam accepts a bachelor’s with a health education major or at least 25 semester credits of health education coursework, and its 90-day option lets you test if you’re scheduled to graduate within 90 days of the exam date. See the CHES certification guide for dates and fees.
When You Need an MPH Instead
Several of the jobs people picture when they choose public health start at the master’s level. BLS says epidemiologists typically need at least a master’s degree, and an MPH with an epidemiology emphasis is common. Some health education positions also require a master’s, and the CPH credential is out of reach for most new graduates: with only a bachelor’s you need five years of public health work experience to qualify, while MPH students at CEPH-accredited schools can sit for it during the degree.
Go for the MPH now if you want to work in epidemiology, biostatistics or research, or if you’re aiming at federal and state jobs that ask for an accredited public health master’s. Work first if you’re unsure which area fits. A year or two in a health department or nonprofit makes your MPH application stronger and helps you pick a concentration. The MPH degree guide covers what the master’s adds, and MPH salary data shows what it pays by job.
Accelerated Bachelor’s to MPH Programs
If you already know you want the MPH, an accelerated pathway lets graduate courses count toward both degrees. These four schools each awarded more than 100 public health bachelor’s degrees in 2022-23 and describe the pathway on their own pages:
| School | Who can apply | Graduate credits that count twice | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Florida | UF juniors in any major with 60+ credits and a 3.2 GPA | 9 to 15 | 33 MPH credits left after the bachelor’s, about three semesters for many |
| Georgia State University | Students with 75 to 110 credit hours and a 3.0 GPA | Up to 16 | Both degrees in five years |
| University of Nevada, Reno | BS Public Health students with 90 credits and a 3.0 GPA | Up to 12 | Form due June 1 for fall or November 1 for spring |
| University at Buffalo | Public health undergraduates on the 3+2 track | Both degrees in five years |
Blank cells mean the school’s page doesn’t list that detail. Georgia State adds one cost advantage: its BSPH students don’t pay graduate fees while taking 4+1 courses. Florida is the one to note if you’re not a public health major, because it takes students from any major. More accelerated and one-year options are on the accelerated MPH page.
How to Plan the Path From Bachelor’s to MPH
The order matters here, because accelerated pathways close once you pass their credit windows.
- Freshman and sophomore year: choose the BS if clinical school is possible, and take statistics early so you can handle graduate-level data courses.
- Before your credit window closes: check whether your school has an accelerated MPH and what it needs. Florida opens at 60 credits and Georgia State closes at 110.
- Junior year: apply to the accelerated track, or line up an internship that can double as your capstone.
- Senior year: take the CHES exam under the 90-day option if you’re headed toward health education, and apply for a standard MPH through SOPHAS or directly if you’re not on an accelerated track.
If your school doesn’t offer a pathway, the largest bachelor’s programs mostly sit next to strong MPH options. South Carolina, the biggest producer, lists eight MPH programs on this site, and Rutgers and Temple both offer an online MPH. Compare every option in the MPH program directory, and check MPH admission requirements for GPA, GRE and prerequisite patterns before your last year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does a Bachelor of Public Health Take?
It follows the same credit total as other bachelor's degrees at the school. CEPH requires a public health bachelor's in an accredited school or program to carry credits commensurate with similar degrees at that university, so a full-time student finishes on the school's normal bachelor's timeline.
Can I Get Certified With Only a Bachelor's in Public Health?
Yes, as a health educator. NCHEC's CHES exam accepts a bachelor's degree with a health education major or at least 25 semester credits of health education coursework, and its 90-day option lets you sit for the exam if you're scheduled to graduate within 90 days of the exam date. The CPH exam is different: with only a bachelor's you need at least five years of public health work experience.
Do I Need a Public Health Bachelor's to Get Into an MPH Program?
No. Epidemiology graduate students typically come from fields such as biology, public policy or social science, according to BLS, and the University of Florida's combined bachelor's/MPH takes students from any major. A public health major does help you use accelerated pathways that are built for a school's own public health undergraduates.
Which Schools Award the Most Public Health Bachelor's Degrees?
The University of South Carolina-Columbia led in 2022-23 with 435, followed by the University of Maryland-College Park with 415 and UC Irvine with 392. All three also have a CEPH-accredited MPH listed on this site.
Is a Bachelor's in Public Health Good for Medical School?
It can be if you choose the science-heavy version. At the University of South Carolina, the BS in Public Health adds biology, chemistry, physics, organic chemistry and anatomy and physiology, which the school says gives you flexibility to complete prerequisites for health-related graduate or professional programs. The BA puts humanities and social sciences first.
Keep Reading
Sources
- CEPH: Accreditation Criteria for Schools and Programs of Public Health (2024)
- CEPH: Accreditation Criteria for Standalone Baccalaureate Programs (amended December 2024)
- CEPH: student FAQs
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Health Education Specialists and Community Health Workers
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Epidemiologists
- University of South Carolina: B.A. in Public Health
- University of South Carolina: B.S. in Public Health
- University of Arizona: undergraduate programs
- UC Irvine: undergraduate public health programs
- University of Nevada, Reno: B.S. to MPH program
- University of Florida: Combination Bachelor's/MPH
- Georgia State University: Accelerated B.S./MPH
- University at Buffalo: combined degree programs
- NCHEC: CHES exam eligibility
- NBPHE: CPH eligibility requirements
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions 2022-23 (revised) and institutional directory 2023
- Council on Education for Public Health, accredited schools and programs (September 2026)