MAJOR GUIDE
Best Colleges for Public Health (2026)
Best colleges for public health. Johns Hopkins, UNC, Emory, and 15+ public health programs compared by research, fieldwork, and career outcomes.
Top Colleges for Public Health
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD · 7.5% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1510-1560 · GPA: 3.93 · 6,040 undergrads
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · 17% acceptance rate · Public
SAT: 1350-1510 · GPA: 4.39 · 19,770 undergrads
Emory University
Atlanta, GA · 11% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1430-1530 · GPA: 3.78 · 7,100 undergrads
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI · 17.7% acceptance rate · Public
SAT: 1340-1530 · GPA: 3.9 · 32,600 undergrads
Columbia University
New York, NY · 3.9% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1480-1570 · GPA: 4.13 · 8,800 undergrads
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · 11.4% acceptance rate · Public
SAT: 1330-1530 · GPA: 3.91 · 32,830 undergrads
University of Washington
Seattle, WA · 48% acceptance rate · Public
SAT: 1270-1470 · GPA: 3.81 · 36,600 undergrads
Boston University
Boston, MA · 11.3% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1370-1510 · GPA: 3.72 · 18,080 undergrads
George Washington University
Washington, DC · 41% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1310-1470 · GPA: 3.67 · 12,200 undergrads
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA · 8.5% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1380-1510 · GPA: 3.73 · 8,700 undergrads
Career Paths for Public Health Majors
Epidemiologist
Health Policy Analyst
Global Health Program Manager
Biostatistician
Public Health Director
Frequently Asked Questions
Is public health a good major for med school?
Public health is an excellent complement to pre-med coursework. It provides population-level context that medical schools value, and schools like JHU and Emory have strong dual-track programs.
Written by AdmitPath team
Rankings based on IPEDS data, program reputation, and career outcome metrics. Last updated June 2026.
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