Public Health, Other.
Data details: Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity, and summary are for this specific degree (6-digit CIP) from IPEDS. Salary, debt, and related financial outcomes are based on the degree category (4-digit CIP) from the College Scorecard API. ← Back to search
All data shown below (except Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity) is based on the category, not just this specific degree.
Please use your own discretion when interpreting these results. For certain degrees, a limited number of institutions report to the government's College Scorecard API, which may cause the data to be skewed or less representative of national trends. Consider these figures as informative but not definitive, and consult additional sources or advisors for important decisions.
Debt to Income Ratio
Debt-to-income analysis for Public Health, Other.: The DTI for this program is 60.3%, which is within the generally accepted range for higher education. While not as low as some top-performing degrees, this ratio suggests that most graduates can manage their student loan payments, especially if they secure employment in related fields. If you are considering Public Health, Other., compare your expected starting salary (currently $43593) to the average debt ($26283) to ensure it fits your financial goals in .
Degrees with a DTI between 0.5 and 0.8 are common, but it's wise to plan your budget and consider loan repayment options.
Important financial note for Public Health, Other.: The debt-to-income ratio for this program is 60.3%, which is above the recommended maximum of 80%. This means that, on average, graduates may need to dedicate a significant portion of their first-year earnings to student loan payments. If you are considering Public Health, Other., be sure to weigh the average starting salary ($43593) against the typical student debt ($26283), and explore scholarships, grants, or alternative funding sources to reduce your financial burden in and beyond.
Key Insights
Wondering if Public Health, Other. is right for you? This degree is designed for students who want both knowledge and practical experience. Most graduates see starting salaries near $43593, and the average student debt is $26283, with a debt-to-income ratio of 0.6—which is typical for many fields.
With an annual graduating class of 42551 students, you’ll be part of a dynamic student body. Whether you’re looking for upward mobility, a chance to innovate, or a degree that’s respected in the job market, Public Health, Other. delivers. Take advantage of every resource your school offers to maximize your success!
Degree Overview
Public Health, Other (CIP 51.2299) is a broad, systems-oriented health sciences category designed to capture public health programs that do not fall neatly into traditional specializations such as epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, or health education. This CIP code exists to represent emerging, interdisciplinary, and specialized public health pathways that respond to rapidly changing population health challenges.
At its core, public health is about protecting and improving health at the population level rather than treating individual patients. Programs classified under 51.2299 often focus on how social systems, policy decisions, environments, technology, and behavior interact to shape health outcomes. These degrees are especially relevant in a world facing pandemics, mental health crises, climate change, health inequity, and globalized disease transmission.
This field is ideal for students who want to work “upstream”—addressing the root causes of illness and injury before they require medical treatment. Instead of asking “How do we cure this disease?” public health asks “Why did this happen, who is affected, and how can we prevent it at scale?”
What Is a Public Health, Other Degree?
A degree under CIP 51.2299 represents non-traditional or interdisciplinary public health programs that combine multiple public health perspectives or focus on niche areas not captured by standard CIP codes. Schools use this category when a program blends disciplines or targets a specific population, system, or emerging issue.
Depending on the institution, programs in this category may integrate:
- Public health foundations and population health science
- Health policy and systems analysis
- Community health and social determinants of health
- Global health or cross-cultural health studies
- Health equity, justice, and ethics
- Emergency preparedness and disaster response
- Environmental and climate-related health issues
- Health informatics and data-informed decision-making
- Program planning, evaluation, and implementation
Rather than training students for one narrowly defined role, these programs emphasize adaptability, systems thinking, and real-world problem solving. Graduates are prepared to work across sectors where health intersects with policy, education, housing, labor, transportation, and the environment.
Who Should Consider This Degree?
Public Health, Other is well-suited for students who:
- Care deeply about population health and prevention
- Are interested in health but not direct clinical care
- Enjoy analyzing social, environmental, and policy factors
- Want to address health disparities and inequities
- Prefer mission-driven work with broad societal impact
- Want flexibility to work in government, nonprofits, or industry
This degree often appeals to “big-picture” thinkers—people who want to improve health outcomes for entire communities, cities, or populations rather than treating individuals one at a time.
What Will You Learn?
Students in 51.2299 programs learn to view health as the outcome of interconnected systems. Coursework emphasizes prevention, analysis, planning, and evaluation rather than diagnosis and treatment.
You will learn how to identify health problems, understand who is most affected, evaluate contributing factors, and design interventions that improve outcomes at scale.
Core Skills You’ll Build
Most programs help students develop skills such as:
- Analyzing population health trends and disparities
- Understanding social determinants of health
- Evaluating public health programs and interventions
- Interpreting health data and research findings
- Communicating health information to diverse audiences
- Designing community-based prevention strategies
- Applying ethical reasoning to public health decisions
- Working across disciplines and stakeholder groups
These skills are essential for addressing complex health challenges that do not have simple medical solutions.
Topics You May Explore
Coursework often covers a wide range of public health themes, such as:
- Population and community health
- Health equity and social justice
- Global and comparative public health
- Environmental and occupational health issues
- Mental and behavioral health at the population level
- Health policy, law, and governance
- Emergency preparedness and response
- Program planning and impact evaluation
- Cultural competence and community engagement
Because the field is broad, many programs allow students to tailor their studies toward specific interests or emerging health priorities.
What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?
A Public Health, Other degree opens the door to a wide range of roles focused on prevention, policy, education, and systems improvement.
Common career paths include:
- Public Health Program Coordinator
- Community Health Specialist
- Health Policy Analyst
- Population Health Analyst
- Public Health Educator
- Health Equity or DEI Specialist
- Emergency Preparedness Planner
- Nonprofit or NGO Program Manager
- Research Assistant or Program Evaluator
Some roles may require additional certifications or graduate education, but this degree provides a strong foundation for both immediate employment and advanced study.
Where Can You Work?
Graduates commonly work in:
- Local, state, and federal public health departments
- Nonprofit and community-based organizations
- Global health and humanitarian organizations
- Hospitals and health systems (population health roles)
- Universities and research institutions
- Schools and educational organizations
- Government agencies beyond health (housing, transportation, labor)
- Private companies focused on health, wellness, or sustainability
Public health professionals are especially valued in roles that require cross-sector collaboration and systems-level thinking.
Is This Degree Hard?
The academic difficulty of this degree depends on the program’s emphasis. While it may involve less chemistry or advanced biology than clinical health degrees, it requires strong skills in analysis, writing, critical thinking, and synthesis. Students must be comfortable working with data, policy documents, research studies, and complex social issues.
The real challenge lies in understanding how multiple factors interact—and designing solutions that work in the real world, not just on paper.
Who Should Choose Public Health, Other Specifically?
This CIP code may be a strong match if you:
- Want to prevent health problems before they start
- Care about social justice and health equity
- Enjoy connecting data, policy, and human behavior
- Want a career with public impact and purpose
- Prefer flexibility across sectors and roles
How to Prepare in High School
Students interested in public health should:
- Take biology and environmental science courses
- Build strong writing and communication skills
- Study statistics or introductory data analysis
- Take social science classes like sociology or economics
- Volunteer with community organizations or health programs
- Stay informed about current public health issues
Public Health, Other represents one of the most adaptable and future-proof health degrees available—designed for students who want to improve lives not one patient at a time, but across entire communities and populations.
Personality Fit (RIASEC Profile)
Official assessment tool by the U.S. Department of Labor