Health Communication
A program that focuses on how people, individually and collectively, understand and accommodate to health and illness and the role of communication and media in shaping professional health care messages and public acceptance of these messages. Includes instruction in the development and use of health-related and care-related messages and media; the goals and strategies of health care promotion; relationships, roles, situations, and social structures in the context of health maintenance and promotion; and applications to disease prevention, health advocacy, and communications concerning treatments.
- Schools offering
- 30
- Annual completions
- 77
- Typical degree level
- Bachelor's
- Median earnings (5yr)
- $62k
About this major
A program that focuses on how people, individually and collectively, understand and accommodate to health and illness and the role of communication and media in shaping professional health care messages and public acceptance of these messages. Includes instruction in the development and use of health-related and care-related messages and media; the goals and strategies of health care promotion; relationships, roles, situations, and social structures in the context of health maintenance and promotion; and applications to disease prevention, health advocacy, and communications concerning treatments.
Examples of specialized tracks: Health and Health Science Communication.
Where this major leads
Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.
| Occupation | Median wage | Job growth | Typical education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public relations specialists | $70k | +4.8% | Bachelor's degree |
| Health education specialists | $63k | +4.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Community health workers | $51k | +11.3% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Communications teachers, postsecondary | $78k | +2.1% | Doctoral or professional degree |
Earnings at a glance
Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.
Median 5-year earnings
$62k
Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings
Associate's
$55k
Bachelor's
$62k
Top colleges for Health Communication
Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.
| College | Location | Assoc. | Bach. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego State University | San Diego, CA | 0 | 19 | 19 |
| University of Houston | Houston, TX | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| Bethany Lutheran College | Mankato, MN | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| Hastings College | Hastings, NE | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Rowan University | Glassboro, NJ | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Grand Valley State University | Allendale, MI | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Eastern Illinois University | Charleston, IL | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin, CA | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Otterbein University | Westerville, OH | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek, NC | 0 | 2 | 2 |
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