Public Health Degree Programs in Utah (2026)

Quick answer: Health Education Specialists in Utah earn a median $59,790 per year, below the national median of $64,070 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 490 of them. Licensing runs through your state health department.

Public Health Pay and Employment in Utah at a Glance

MetricUtahNationalSource
Median annual wage$59,790$64,070BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile$48,290$42,990BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile$50,340$50,620BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile$82,850$87,130BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile$110,430$118,200BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment49065,690BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient0.661.00BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)not published by state4.5%BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How Utah Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The Utah median of $59,790 sits below the national median of $64,070 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.

A location quotient of 0.66 puts Utah below the national average, so the occupation is less concentrated here than in the typical state. Expect a thinner local job market and fewer employers to move between (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.

Where the Jobs Are in Utah

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Provo$61,94060
Salt Lake City$60,270290
Ogden$55,65050

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Public health employment concentrates around state and county health departments, hospital systems and the non-profits that contract with them, so local government funding shapes the market more than private demand does

Health Education Specialists Wages by Metro Area in Utah

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), health education specialists wages in Utah vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Salt Lake City-Murray290$60,270$72,040$49,120$112,190
Provo-Orem-Lehi60$61,940$66,400$40,390$97,470
Ogden50$55,650$65,070$50,340$106,270

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

All Utah Metro Areas With Published Data

Salt Lake City

Licensing and Credentials in Utah

Public health is not a state-licensed occupation, so no board gates entry. What employers and graduate programs look for is accreditation from CEPH, the Council on Education for Public Health. Certification is voluntary and employer-driven, which makes the credential unusually portable between states.

Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state health department that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.

Earning the Degree While You Work

Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 8 schools within 225 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 8 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

Utah Valley University

Orem, UT 20.0 miles away BOC Score 80.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 43.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 76
  • Annual completions: 3537
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $66,978 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT 44.7 miles away BOC Score 77.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
  • 201 Presidents Circle, ROOM 201 Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9008
  • (801) 581-7200
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 64.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 31
  • Annual completions: 954
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $75,345 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT 22.3 miles away BOC Score 77.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 21
  • Annual completions: 938
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $77,018 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Weber State University

Ogden, UT 73.3 miles away BOC Score 72.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 44.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 62
  • Annual completions: 2541
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $69,883 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Westminster University

Salt Lake City, UT 42.4 miles away BOC Score 63.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 66.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 4
  • Annual completions: 34
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $72,401 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Utah State University

Logan, UT 111.7 miles away BOC Score 57.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 58.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 51
  • Annual completions: 1435
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $63,484 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Western Governors University

Salt Lake City, UT 39.2 miles away BOC Score 56.7
Tuition $8,658 - $16,728
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 48.1%
  • Programs offered: 14
  • Annual completions: 14220
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $87,445 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Utah Tech University

Saint George, UT 225.0 miles away BOC Score 51.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 43
  • Annual completions: 1011
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $55,624 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do health education specialists make in Utah?

The median annual wage for health education specialists in Utah is $59,790, below the national median of $64,070 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $50,340 at the 25th percentile to $82,850 at the 75th.

How many health education specialists work in Utah?

Utah holds about 490 health education specialist jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 65,690, and BLS projects about 7,900 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).

Do I need a license to work as a health education specialist in Utah?

Public health is not a state-licensed occupation, so no board gates entry. What employers and graduate programs look for is accreditation from CEPH, the Council on Education for Public Health. Certification is voluntary and employer-driven, which makes the credential unusually portable between states. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state health department before you enroll in any program.

Can I earn a CEPH-accredited public health degree online while working in Utah?

Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state health department.

What is the highest-paying area of Utah for health education specialists?

Among Utah metro areas with published data, Provo reports the highest median at $61,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Is Utah a good state for health education specialists?

On pay, the state median of $59,790 sits below the national $64,070 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.66 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Health Education Specialists (SOC 21-1091), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.


About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.