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CIP 51.2202 Health Professions

Environmental Health

IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education · 2025

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Total graduates

1,149

2025 · 80 schools

International share

20.0%

230 international students

Bachelor's degrees

313

5.8% international

Master's degrees

742

26.0% international

Overview

Environmental Health is a vital interdisciplinary field that focuses on the interactions between the environment and human health. It encompasses various aspects, including the study of how environmental factors—such as air and water quality, chemical exposures, biological agents, and physical hazards—affect health outcomes. Professionals in this field work to identify, assess, and control environmental hazards that can lead to disease and injury.

Students pursuing a degree in Environmental Health typically engage in coursework that covers topics such as toxicology, epidemiology, environmental science, and public health policy. They learn to analyze data and develop strategies to mitigate risks associated with environmental exposures, ensuring that communities are protected from potential health threats.

Career opportunities for graduates in Environmental Health are diverse and can be found in government agencies, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and private industry. Common roles include environmental health specialists, public health officials, and safety coordinators. These professionals play a crucial role in informing policy decisions, conducting research, and implementing programs that promote healthy environments.

In addition to technical skills, Environmental Health practitioners must possess strong communication and problem-solving abilities, as they often work collaboratively with various stakeholders, including government entities, community organizations, and the public. As environmental issues, such as climate change and pollution, continue to pose significant challenges, the demand for experts in Environmental Health is expected to grow, making it a promising field for aspiring students and professionals.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2002 to 2025, graduates grew 89% and the international share went from 7.6% to 20.0%.

International share (%)
Graduates by group, 2025
White
41.8%
Asian
11.7%
Hispanic
11.3%
Black
9.1%
Other
6.1%
Intl.
20.0%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 80 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

RankSchoolStateGraduatesInternational
#3 Harvard University Massachusetts 11 7
#4 Yale University Connecticut 20 7
#9 Johns Hopkins University Maryland 35 11
#12 Columbia University in the City of New York New York 46 13
#14 Cornell University New York 40 18
#16 Washington University in St Louis Missouri 68 38
#20 University of California-Berkeley California 19 3
#20 University of California-Los Angeles California 22 6
#23 Emory University Georgia 55 17
#25 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Michigan 14 2
#27 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill North Carolina 39 0
#29 University of California-San Diego California 3 0
#31 New York University New York 16 6
#34 University of California-Irvine California 9 3
#34 University of Florida Florida 9 2
#34 Boston University Massachusetts 31 4
#44 Ohio State University-Main Campus Ohio 26 1
#49 University of Maryland-College Park Maryland 3 0
#49 University of Rochester New York 8 0
#49 University of Washington-Seattle Campus Washington 66 3
#52 University of Georgia Georgia 16 0
#55 Purdue University-Main Campus Indiana 5 1
#59 George Washington University D.C. 29 1
#59 Tulane University of Louisiana Louisiana 37 0
#59 University of Massachusetts-Amherst Massachusetts 8 2
#59 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minnesota 33 6
#59 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pennsylvania 9 2
#59 Texas A & M University-College Station Texas 11 4
#73 Indiana University-Bloomington Indiana 4 3
#80 Drexel University Pennsylvania 8 2
#90 Baylor University Texas 11 0
#100 University of Iowa Iowa 11 1
#116 Brigham Young University-Provo Utah 8 0
#121 University of Arizona Arizona 5 1
#121 Loyola University Chicago Illinois 5 1
#121 University of South Carolina-Columbia South Carolina 5 1
#137 University of Alabama at Birmingham Alabama 4 2
#137 Clarkson University New York 1 0
#169 Colorado State University-Fort Collins Colorado 11 1
#179 University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Ohio 7 1
#179 University of Utah Utah 2 0
#202 East Carolina University North Carolina 16 0
#202 Ohio University-Main Campus Ohio 9 7
#219 Illinois State University Illinois 9 0
#227 West Chester University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania 9 0
#262 Central Michigan University Michigan 11 0
#299 University of Toledo Ohio 6 0
#308 Oakland University Michigan 17 0
#317 Marshall University West Virginia 2 1
#328 East Tennessee State University Tennessee 3 0
#328 Old Dominion University Virginia 3 0
#353 University of Houston--Clear Lake Texas 5 1
#382 Texas Southern University Texas 4 1
LAC #166 Fort Valley State University Georgia 8 1
LAC #172 Brigham Young University-Idaho Idaho 14 3
— California State University-Northridge California 45 5
— University of Illinois Springfield Illinois 32 30
— University of Maryland Global Campus Maryland 29 0
— Western Kentucky University Kentucky 19 3
— Roane State Community College Tennessee 17 0
— Missouri Southern State University Missouri 16 0
— The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Texas 14 2
— University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Puerto Rico 13 0
— CUNY Graduate School and University Center New York 12 1
— Eastern Kentucky University Kentucky 11 0
— California State University--San Bernardino California 7 0
— Virginia Union University Virginia 7 0
— Western Carolina University North Carolina 6 0
— Oregon Health & Science University Oregon 6 0
— Thomas More University Kentucky 4 0
— East Central University Oklahoma 4 0
— Westminster College Missouri 3 1
— New York Medical College New York 3 1
— Benedict College South Carolina 3 3
— University of Wisconsin--Oshkosh Wisconsin 3 0
— CUNY York College New York 2 0
— Alaska Pacific University Alaska 1 0
— Ivy Tech Community College Indiana 1 0
— Unity Environmental University Maine 1 0
— Fitchburg State University Massachusetts 1 0

Purple: international students are 25% or more of the school's graduates.

Related jobs and pay

OccupationUS employmentMean hourly wageMean annual wage
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 221,270 — $147,570
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists 172,340 $56.18 $116,840
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists 140,610 $45.12 $93,860
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health 89,250 $44.08 $91,680
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians 30,590 $32.75 $68,120
Epidemiologists 12,090 $47.06 $97,890

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Graduate counts: IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education, 2002–2025. Rankings: 2027 U.S. News.