Best Public Health Programs in North Carolina (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 11 Public Health programs in North Carolina by the median earnings of Public Health graduates four years after completing, highest first. Duke University leads the list with median earnings of $101,771 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed programs, reported earnings range from $101,771 to $29,685, with a median of $60,722. For 1 of the 11 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 8 of the 11 programs, and private nonprofits for 3. Duke University ranks 78th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
North Carolina A & T State University posts the lowest average net price on the list, at $10,846.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke University · Durham, NC | $101,771 | $29,612 | $735 | 5.7% |
| Duke University reports $101,771 in median earnings of Public Health graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 6%. | |||||
| 2 | Elon University · Elon, NC | $81,153 | $41,555 | $26,523 | 66.4% |
| Elon University ranks 2nd on this list, with median earnings of $81,153 for its Public Health graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC | $72,419 | $10,846 | $8,223 | 49.9% |
| North Carolina A & T State University carries a median federal debt of $27,000 across all of the school's borrowers who completed, alongside earnings of $72,419 for its Public Health graduates. | |||||
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC | $63,965 | $15,435 | $10,357 | 79.6% |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte posts an average net price of $15,435 and median earnings of $63,965 for its Public Health graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC | $61,698 | $13,315 | $8,816 | 81.8% |
| Western Carolina University shows median earnings of $61,698 for its Public Health graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 8 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 6 | University of North Carolina Wilmington · Wilmington, NC | $60,722 | $20,109 | $10,778 | 64.2% |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington admits 64% of applicants and reports median earnings of $60,722 for its Public Health graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | East Carolina University · Greenville, NC | $59,566 | $15,739 | $10,046 | 89.2% |
| East Carolina University ranks 7th on this list, with a median federal debt of $25,000 among Public Health completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 8 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro · Greensboro, NC | $53,124 | $10,965 | $7,305 | 88.5% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro reports an average net price of $10,965 and median earnings of $53,124 for its Public Health graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 9 | Appalachian State University · Boone, NC | $49,039 | $16,836 | $9,325 | 90.1% |
| Appalachian State University shows median earnings of $49,039 for its Public Health graduates four years after completing, alongside a median federal debt of $19,000 among Public Health completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 10 | University of North Carolina Asheville · Asheville, NC | $42,267 | $12,250 | $8,219 | 91.9% |
| University of North Carolina Asheville admits 92% of applicants and reports median earnings of $42,267 for its Public Health graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 11 | Barton College · Wilson, NC | $29,685 | $23,626 | $19,641 | 94.2% |
| Barton College ranks 11th on this list, with median earnings of $29,685 for its Public Health graduates four years after completing. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Public Health graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in North Carolina appear. For 1 of the 11 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric covers federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled; it does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range from Duke University to the bottom of the list spans $72,086, and the gap between Duke University and Elon University is $20,618.
Related rankings
- Best Public Health Programs in the United States
- Best Colleges in North Carolina
- Best Public Health Programs in Texas
- Top Public Health Programs in California by Earnings
- Best Public Health Programs in New Jersey
- Best Public Health Programs in Georgia
- Health Professions Colleges in North Carolina for Social Mobility
- Health Professions Colleges in North Carolina
- Nursing Colleges in North Carolina