Public Health Degree Programs in Milwaukee, WI (2026)

Quick answer: Health Education Specialists in the Milwaukee area earn a median $75,910 per year, above the national median of $64,070, and the metro employs about 180 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Public Health Pay in Milwaukee, WI

MetricMilwaukee metroWisconsinNational
Median annual wage$75,910$74,040$64,070
10th percentile$55,530$50,710$42,990
25th percentile$66,560$61,950$50,620
75th percentile$88,470$84,960$87,130
90th percentile$97,030$96,940$118,200
Employment18090065,690
Location quotient0.52-1.00

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metropolitan statistical area.

What the Numbers Say About This Market

The Milwaukee median of $75,910 is above the national median of $64,070, and above the Wisconsin statewide median of $74,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The metro’s location quotient of 0.52 means health education specialists are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.

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

Other Wisconsin Metro Areas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Madison$79,910160

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Licensing

Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. 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.

See the Wisconsin licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state health department.

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 213 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

Medical College of Wisconsin

Milwaukee, WI 3.1 miles away
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 1
  • Annual completions: 4
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $100,470 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI 72.5 miles away BOC Score 86.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 89.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 19
  • Annual completions: 1073
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $78,974 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

La Crosse, WI 171.8 miles away BOC Score 75.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 71.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 11
  • Annual completions: 352
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $60,184 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Eau Claire, WI 212.8 miles away BOC Score 69.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 65.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 6
  • Annual completions: 305
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $60,838 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Carroll University

Waukesha, WI 13.8 miles away BOC Score 59.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 70.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 10
  • Annual completions: 161
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $66,639 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Green Bay, WI 101.5 miles away BOC Score 55.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 50.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 10
  • Annual completions: 139
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $54,344 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Milwaukee, WI 4.5 miles away BOC Score 55.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 50.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 21
  • Annual completions: 831
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $62,480 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Concordia University-Wisconsin

Mequon, WI 13.3 miles away BOC Score 47.7
Tuition $35,470 - $53,315
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 78.2%
  • Graduation rate: 66.3%
  • Programs offered: 26
  • Annual completions: 362
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $63,361 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do health education specialists make in Milwaukee?

The median annual wage for health education specialists in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $75,910, above the national median of $64,070 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

How many health education specialists work in the Milwaukee area?

The Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area employs about 180 health education specialists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do health education specialists in Milwaukee need a license?

Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. 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. Confirm current requirements with your state health department.

Can I study public health online from Milwaukee?

The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state health department.

Is Milwaukee a better market than the rest of Wisconsin?

The Milwaukee metro median is $75,910 against a statewide median of $74,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.

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/.