Are Public Health Degrees Still Worth It? Short Answer, Yes.

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Public health degrees are not dead (because public health skillsets are still valued).

Even as the public health field faces major challenges, public health degrees remain valuable. The skill sets gained through a public health education continue to be in demand across industries.

Public health skill sets are still highly valued, and degrees in public health continue to provide essential opportunities for impact, growth, and career advancement.

While the public health landscape is shifting, professionals in the field still have strong career prospects. And you can still make a critical difference in areas important to you.

The public health degree is now going to have to be leveraged in different ways. A degree alone won’t guarantee success, but there is potential to take advantage of emerging opportunities.

A Brief History of Public Health Degrees

Public health education has evolved significantly over the past century to meet shifting public health needs.

Over time, public health degrees have diversified. Offering students specializations in epidemiology, health policy, environmental health, global health, health equity, and more.

As the field has evolved, its relevance remains strong.

Why Public Health Degrees Still Matter Today

If federal jobs are decreasing, does that mean that your public health degrees are less valuable? No, not at all.

The reality is that the demand for public health skills is shifting towards other sectors – including private industry, technology, philanthropy, and health entrepreneurship.

The skills you gain through public health education can allow you to make impact in many sectors.

Foundational Skill Set

Public health degrees give you a toolkit that applies across sectors—from government and nonprofits to tech, healthcare, and consulting. These core skills include:

  • Policy Advocacy – Learning how to influence and shape policies that affect entire populations.
  • Health Promotion – Designing and implementing programs that change behaviors and improve health outcomes.
  • Epidemiology & Data Analysis – Understanding how to collect, interpret, and use data to make evidence-based decisions.
  • Leadership & Project Management – Leading teams, managing programs, and communicating across disciplines.
  • Systems Thinking – Seeing the bigger picture and how various sectors, environments, and policies intersect to influence health.

These are not just “health” skills—they are problem-solving, leadership, and strategy skills that can be applied in any field focused on people and systems.

CEPH Competencies

Public health degrees accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) ensure students are trained in ​22 core competencies​ that fall within 8 key domains:

  1. Evidence-based Approaches to Public Health
  2. Public Health & Health Care Systems
  3. Planning & Management to Promote Health
  4. Policy in Public Health
  5. Leadership
  6. Communication
  7. Interprofessional/Intersectoral Practice
  8. Systems Thinking

These competencies are designed to prepare graduates not just for a job, but for leadership and innovation in public health and beyond.

In a world where health challenges are increasingly complex and interdisciplinary, the competencies taught through MPH and BSPH programs provide a foundation for making real, scalable impact—no matter where you take your career.

Diverse career paths

Given the shifting public health landscape—especially with decreasing federal job opportunities – graduates must explore emerging sectors that value public health expertise and skill sets.

Here’s a breakdown of seven promising career paths in public health, along with key insights into why they are growing and what roles to explore:

Top 7 career paths to research (as the public health landscape shifts):

  1. Health Technology (e.g., digital health startups, AI in healthcare, health informatics)
  2. Health Philanthropy (e.g., foundations funding public health initiatives)
  3. Pharmaceutical & Biotech (e.g., drug safety, health policy analysis)
  4. Health Insurance & Managed Care (e.g., population health, value-based care strategies)
  5. Corporate Wellness & Employee Health (e.g., workplace health programs, employee health initiatives)
  6. Public Health Consulting & Entrepreneurship (e.g., advisory roles for companies, independent public health initiatives)
  7. Venture Capital & Health Investment (e.g., funding public health innovations, impact investing)

Public health graduates must expand their career vision.

Opportunities exist beyond traditional government roles. The specific career path you envisioned may be disappearing.

Regardless, there are many long term careers that will benefit from your public health expertise and skill set.

The Shift in Public Health Career Landscapes

Where Do Public Health Graduates End Up?

Each year, around ​18,000 students graduate with a bachelor’s​ in public health and 18,000 with a master’s.

However, only 10% of bachelor’s and 19% of master’s graduates enter traditional governmental public health careers.

Instead:

  • 38% of bachelor’s graduates work in for-profit organizations
  • 29% of master’s graduates work in healthcare organizations
  • Only 14% of the governmental public health workforce has formal public health training

These numbers show that public health professionals are finding work beyond traditional government roles—and that is not necessarily a bad thing.

[Note: only 14% of the governmental public health workforce has any formal public health training]

Traditional Careers vs. Emerging Opportunities

Traditional

The traditional career in public health are more up in the air than ever. Traditional roles in public health include working at health departments, CDC, NIH, FDA, USAID, research institutions, and hospitals.

While federal agencies – CDC, NIH, HHS, FDA – are being shaken up, job prospects don’t seem the brightest. Many internship and fellowship programs at these agencies have also been paused or eliminated.

The current Federal administration seems set on decreasing the size of the federal workforce.

It is yet to be seen how traditional public health career will play out. But if you are a student, I’d suggest prioritizing other non-traditional career paths for the time being.

Emerging Opportunities

While traditional roles are turbulent, there are many emerging opportunities to leverage your public health skillsets.

These opportunities always existed but now are more sought after than previously. During the pandemic, there was a new light shun on the value of public health skill sets. Non-traditional industries saw the value that various parts of public health skill sets have to offer.

Federal Public Health Careers vs. Public Health Professionals

With mass federal layoffs, there is now a mass influx of professionals entering into an already turbulent job market. This means for early career professionals, job prospects are hard – but not impossible.

A. Things Are Bad for Traditional Public Health Roles

Funding cuts, political interference, and mass layoffs have created uncertainty in governmental public health jobs. There have also been many federally funded research grants that have been halted or terminated.

The de Beaumont Foundation reports an ​80,000 worker shortage​ in public health agencies.

Many internship and fellowship programs have been dismantled, making it harder for students to enter traditional public health pathways.

B. Things Aren’t As Bad For Public Health Professionals

Public health skills remain in high demand, especially in:

  • Data Science & Analytics
  • Health Policy & Philanthropy
  • Community Health Initiatives

The pandemic emphasized the need for strong public health leadership and expanded non-traditional roles in corporate, nonprofit, and tech sectors.

When You’ll Feel the Value of Your Public Health Degree

A public health degree is valuable when you strategically apply it to emerging opportunities:

  • If you want to work at the intersection of health, community impact, and data-driven decision-making, a public health degree is a strong asset.
  • If you’re interested in preventative health, health equity, and systemic change, your degree opens many doors.
  • If you’re willing to leverage your degree beyond traditional public health roles, you will find even greater career opportunities.

The key takeaway: A public health degree alone won’t guarantee career success, but strategic positioning, networking, and adaptability will.

Serious Considerations for Pursuing a Public Health Degree

[I’ll be sharing more detailed thoughts on this soon]

1. Cost vs. ROI (Return on Investment)

Before enrolling and committing to a public health degree, consider:

  • Tuition Costs & Funding (scholarships, assistantships, in-state tuition, etc.)
  • Job Market & Career Prospects in your intended focus area
  • University Connections & Alumni Networks that can open doors
  • Long-Term Earning Potential, not just your first job

Example:

Let’s say an MPH program costs $50,000. If your starting salary after graduation is $55,000, the return might seem small at first glance.

But if you receive scholarships or assistantships, that cost can drop significantly—making the degree much more financially feasible.

Plus, if you’re transitioning from a lower-paying role (e.g., $35,000 in a community-based job) to a more specialized public health position starting at $65,000, the long-term payoff can be well worth it.

An MPH also makes sense if the program offers strong practicum opportunities, access to influential alumni, or connections to health departments or specific organization/industries.

Even if the initial salary isn’t huge, the degree can open doors to leadership, policy, or global health roles down the line. The key is to do your research, estimate your total investment, and make sure the career path you’re pursuing aligns with both your financial goals and your passion for impact.

Tip: Do the Math

Use a loan repayment calculator and research salary ranges on sites like Glassdoor, Payscale, or CEPH outcomes reports.

Then ask: “Will this investment help me grow, open new doors, and feel aligned with my values — not just financially but holistically?”

2. Passion for Public Health

Public health is rooted in purpose—advancing health equity, preventing disease, and creating systemic change. If you’re drawn to this field, passion matters—but it must be paired with strategy.

Too often, public health professionals are told to sacrifice financial stability for impact. But passion shouldn’t mean settling for low pay or burnout.

Ask yourself:

  • Does this work align with the change I want to create?
  • Will I be supported and paid fairly in the process?

Passion is your fuel—but strategy is your map. With both, you can build a meaningful, sustainable career in public health.

3. Alternative Paths:

Not everyone needs an MPH.

Consider:

  • Graduate Certificates (e.g., epidemiology, health policy)
  • Short Courses & Certifications
  • Experience-Based Pathways (e.g., fellowships, internships)

For some, these options provide a better return on investment than a full MPH.

Conclusion: It’s Still Worth It (If You Know How to Use It)

Despite challenges in governmental public health, the demand for skilled professionals remains strong.

  • Public health education is a tool—those who leverage it creatively will thrive.
  • The public health job market is shifting, but those who adapt can find higher-paying, impactful careers.
  • Public health will always be needed—whether in policy, healthcare, corporate wellness, or technology.

Bottom line? A public health degree is still worth it—but how you use it matters more than ever.

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