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# Best Public Health Programs in the West (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Regional list from [Best Public Health Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-public-health-programs/)

This page ranks 31 Public Health programs in the West by the median earnings of Public Health graduates four years after completing. [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/) ranks 1st on this list, reporting median earnings of $89,522 for its graduates four years after completing.

Across the listed programs, the figure ranges from $89,522 to $35,594, with a median of $58,974. For 3 of the 31 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

Public institutions account for 24 of the 31 programs, and private nonprofits for 7. University of California-San Diego holds the best Azimuth composite rank on the page, ranking 1st among nonprofit four-year institutions.

California State University-Los Angeles posts the lowest average net price on the page, at $3,967.

## The ranked list

31 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $89,522 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
|  | [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/) ranks 1st on this list, reporting [$89,522 in median earnings](/school/university-of-southern-california/outcomes/) of Public Health graduates four years after completing alongside an admission rate of 10%. |
| 2 | Montana Technological University · Butte, MT | $86,855 | $16,481 | $11,914 | 91.1% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed from Montana Technological University left with a median of $18,750 in federal loans, and its Public Health completers earn $86,855 four years after completing. |
| 3 | California Baptist University · Riverside, CA | $77,329 | $26,285 | $22,298 | 84.9% |
|  | [California Baptist University](/school/california-baptist-university/majors/), a private nonprofit university in Riverside, posts [median earnings of $77,329](/school/california-baptist-university/outcomes/) for its Public Health graduates four years after completing. |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $76,572 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
|  | With an [average net price of $13,481,](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/cost/) [University of California-Berkeley](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/) ranks 4th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 5 | Chapman University · Orange, CA | $72,529 | $46,555 | $33,559 | 65.4% |
|  | [Chapman University](/school/chapman-university/majors/) [admits 65% of applicants](/school/chapman-university/admissions/) and its Public Health graduates earn a median of $72,529 four years after completing. |
| 6 | University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ | $66,937 | $16,674 | $13,353 | 86.1% |
|  | [University of Arizona](/school/university-of-arizona/majors/) reports [$66,937 in median earnings](/school/university-of-arizona/outcomes/) for its Public Health graduates four years after completing, with 218 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 7 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $66,110 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
|  | Ranking 7th on this list, [University of California-San Diego](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/majors/) carries an [average net price of $12,470](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/cost/) and a median of $15,500 in federal loans across all of its borrowers who completed. |
| 8 | California State University-San Bernardino · San Bernardino, CA | $65,961 | $4,564 | $2,681 | 93.7% |
|  | [California State University-San Bernardino](/school/california-state-university-san-bernardino/majors/) shows [median earnings of $65,961](/school/california-state-university-san-bernardino/outcomes/) for its Public Health graduates four years after completing, and ranks 8th on this list. |
| 9 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion · Tempe, AZ | $64,275 | $14,967 | $9,070 | 89.9% |
|  | [Arizona State University Campus Immersion](/school/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion/majors/) posts an [admission rate of 90%](/school/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion/admissions/) and a school-wide median federal debt of $19,500 for its borrowers who completed. |
| 10 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus · Seattle, WA | $63,666 | $14,091 | $6,384 | 39.2% |
|  | [University of Washington-Seattle Campus](/school/university-of-washington-seattle-campus/majors/) reports [$63,666 in median earnings](/school/university-of-washington-seattle-campus/outcomes/) for its Public Health graduates four years after completing, and ranks 72nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 11 | Oregon State University · Corvallis, OR | $62,633 | $19,604 | $12,107 | 77.3% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed from [Oregon State University](/school/oregon-state-university/majors/) left with a [median of $21,221](/school/oregon-state-university/outcomes/) in federal loans, and its Public Health completers earn $62,633 four years after completing. |
| 12 | Central Washington University · Ellensburg, WA | $62,435 | $18,476 | $11,846 | 90.6% |
|  | [Central Washington University](/school/central-washington-university/majors/) shows an [average net price of $18,476](/school/central-washington-university/cost/) and median earnings of $62,435 for its Public Health graduates four years after completing. |
| 13 | Northern Arizona University · Flagstaff, AZ | $61,757 | $14,158 | $9,709 | 89.6% |
|  | [Northern Arizona University](/school/northern-arizona-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $61,757](/school/northern-arizona-university/outcomes/) for its Public Health graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $14,158. |
| 14 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $60,904 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed at [San Diego State University](/school/san-diego-state-university/majors/) left with a [median of $15,000](/school/san-diego-state-university/outcomes/) in federal loans, and the program's earnings cohort numbered 162 graduates. |
| 15 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $60,430 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
|  | [University of California-Irvine](/school/university-of-california-irvine/majors/) [admits 29% of applicants](/school/university-of-california-irvine/admissions/) and ranks 12th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 16 | Westminster University · Salt Lake City, UT | $58,974 | $27,094 | $22,972 | 66.6% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Salt Lake City, Westminster University shows median earnings of $58,974 for its Public Health graduates four years after completing. |
| 17 | Portland State University · Portland, OR | $58,860 | $9,552 | $7,655 | 90.9% |
|  | [Portland State University](/school/portland-state-university/majors/) ranks 17th on this list and reports an [average net price of $7,655](/school/portland-state-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
| 18 | California State University-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $56,466 | $3,967 | $2,877 | 91.3% |
|  | With an [average net price of $3,967,](/school/california-state-university-los-angeles/cost/) [California State University-Los Angeles](/school/california-state-university-los-angeles/majors/) reports median earnings of $56,466 for its Public Health graduates four years after completing. |
| 19 | University of California-Merced · Merced, CA | $56,393 | $11,983 | $7,945 | 90.5% |
|  | [University of California-Merced](/school/university-of-california-merced/majors/) posts a [median of $16,144](/school/university-of-california-merced/outcomes/) in federal loans across all of its borrowers who completed, and its Public Health graduates earn a median of $56,393 four years after completing. |
| 20 | University of Hawaii at Manoa · Honolulu, HI | $56,371 | $15,664 | $10,675 | 86.6% |
|  | An [admission rate of 87%](/school/university-of-hawaii-at-manoa/admissions/) and an Azimuth composite rank of 258th among nonprofit four-year institutions accompany the $56,371 median earnings of [University of Hawaii at Manoa](/school/university-of-hawaii-at-manoa/majors/)'s Public Health graduates four years after completing. |
| 21 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $55,989 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
|  | [California State University-Northridge](/school/california-state-university-northridge/majors/) shows [median earnings of $55,989](/school/california-state-university-northridge/outcomes/) for its Public Health graduates four years after completing, with an earnings cohort of 312 graduates. |
| 22 | University of Utah · Salt Lake City, UT | $55,200 | $16,200 | $13,123 | 86.0% |
|  | A public university in Salt Lake City, [University of Utah](/school/university-of-utah/majors/) carries an [average net price of $16,200](/school/university-of-utah/cost/) and a school-wide median federal debt of $19,000. |
| 23 | Pacific University · Forest Grove, OR | $55,116 | $35,273 | $23,318 | 89.6% |
|  | Pacific University reports median earnings of $55,116 for its Public Health graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $23,318 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 24 | University of Alaska Anchorage · Anchorage, AK | $53,245 | $15,301 | $11,582 | Not reported |
|  | University of Alaska Anchorage ranks 24th on this list, with median earnings of $53,245 for its Public Health graduates four years after completing. |
| 25 | Western Oregon University · Monmouth, OR | $52,452 | $17,237 | $15,575 | 98.1% |
|  | Western Oregon University reports median earnings of $52,452 for its Public Health graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 98%. |
| 26 | Brigham Young University · Provo, UT | $51,996 | $15,564 | $10,444 | 67.8% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed at [Brigham Young University](/school/brigham-young-university/majors/) left with a [median of $11,069](/school/brigham-young-university/outcomes/) in federal loans, and the school ranks 27th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 27 | Fort Lewis College · Durango, CO | $47,830 | $17,296 | $18,622 | 77.3% |
|  | Fort Lewis College, a public university in Durango, shows an average net price of $17,296 and a Public Health earnings cohort of 16 graduates. |
| 28 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins · Fort Collins, CO | $47,260 | $21,279 | $13,259 | 88.5% |
|  | [Colorado State University-Fort Collins](/school/colorado-state-university-fort-collins/majors/) posts [median earnings of $47,260](/school/colorado-state-university-fort-collins/outcomes/) for its Public Health graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $13,259 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 29 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus · Las Cruces, NM | $42,410 | $8,889 | $6,648 | 89.0% |
|  | With an [average net price of $8,889,](/school/new-mexico-state-university-main-campus/cost/) [New Mexico State University-Main Campus](/school/new-mexico-state-university-main-campus/majors/) reports median earnings of $42,410 for its Public Health graduates four years after completing. |
| 30 | Boise State University · Boise, ID | $42,188 | $21,610 | $18,165 | 87.2% |
|  | [Boise State University](/school/boise-state-university/majors/) [admits 87% of applicants](/school/boise-state-university/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $42,188 for its Public Health graduates four years after completing. |
| 31 | Santa Clara University · Santa Clara, CA | $35,594 | $50,062 | $22,985 | 48.0% |
|  | [Santa Clara University](/school/santa-clara-university/majors/), a private nonprofit university in Santa Clara, reports [median earnings of $35,594](/school/santa-clara-university/outcomes/) for its Public Health graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $22,985 for families earning under $30,000. |

## 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 the West appear. The figure is the median for federally aided completers of the program who were working and not enrolled. For 3 of the 31 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 31 schools with a published figure. University of Southern California leads at $89,522, and the gap to second-ranked Montana Technological University is $2,667.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Public Health Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-public-health-programs/)
-   [Best Colleges in the West](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-west/)
-   [Best Public Health Programs in the Midwest](/rankings/best-public-health-programs-in-the-midwest/)
-   [Best Public Health Programs in the Northeast](/rankings/best-public-health-programs-in-the-northeast/)
-   [Best Public Health Programs in the South](/rankings/best-public-health-programs-in-the-south/)
-   Health Professions Colleges in the West for Social Mobility
-   Health Professions Colleges in the West
-   Nursing Colleges in the West for Social Mobility
-   Physical Therapy Colleges in the West for Social Mobility
-   Physical Therapy Colleges in the West
-   Speech-Language Pathology Colleges in the West for Social Mobility