Best Community Health Services Programs

A community health services program can prepare students to work as health educators and promoters for communities. Careers range from positions in government agencies, healthcare settings, nonprofits, and volunteer agencies.

If you choose to live on campus, the total average annual cost at a four-year public college is $35,551. If you live at home, the average annual cost drops significantly, down to $24,587. In general, tuition costs for an online program are similar to in-person programs.

However, tuition costs do not tell the whole story. Online colleges come with their own fees and online costs. Most bachelor’s degrees take four years to complete.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs for health education specialists and community health workers are projected to grow 17% from 2020-2030. The median annual salary for health education specialists is $60,600, as of May 2021.

Rankings compiled by the BestColleges Ranking Team

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Each year, the BestColleges Ranking Team evaluates hundreds of programs to produce our annual Best Bachelor’s in Community Health Services ranking. In 2022, the team sourced the most recent data available from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Navigator, both of which are hosted by the National Center for Education Statistics. We identified 56 schools that qualify for our ranking list based on the following criteria.

To ensure the accuracy and quality of our final ranked list, the ranking team reviewed each qualifying school to ensure it met the criteria for our ranking, and then applied our proprietary ranking methodology to identify the best schools offering this program in the nation. Each school is ranked based on a formula measuring academic factors (60%) and affordability (40%).

The BestColleges Ranking Team is made up of contributors from our data science and product management teams. These contributors operate independently from the editorial team. All BestColleges school rankings are produced by the ranking team and are free of editorial influence. Read our Editorial Policy and Standards to learn more.

Earning a bachelor’s degree in community health services often leads to a rewarding career that can make a difference in communities locally and globally. If this is of interest, the degree is worth it.

The BLS projects an overall job growth rate of 17% from 2020-2030 for health education specialists and community health workers. This is higher than the projected average growth rate for all occupations (8%).

While the programs listed above are all on campus, some universities offer hybrid or online bachelor’s in community health services.

Careers requiring a bachelor’s in community health services span across government agencies, nonprofits, hospitals, and clinics. Some potential job titles include hospital educator, health consultant, and corporate wellness professional.

According to the BLS, about 24% of health education specialists work in a government facility or program, with 21% working for state, local, and private hospitals. Six percent work for religious, professional, and nonprofit organizations.

If you are looking for more opportunities to use your degree, you can earn more experience with this degree by volunteering around the world with the Peace Corps.

Many universities offer master’s in community health services programs. Graduates from these master’s programs often pursue jobs as consultants and epidemiologists. Some programs allow undergraduates to earn graduate-level credits while they earn their bachelor’s.

Other continuing education options include certification programs and further training. Most bachelor’s of community health services programs prepare their students to pass the Certified Health Education Specialist exam. The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing website details multiple opportunities for continuing education.

The median annual wage for health education specialists is $60,600 as of May 2021, according to the BLS. Health education workers typically have a bachelor’s degree and often certification.

Where you work plays a big part in how much you can expect to make in this field. Those who work in state, local, and private hospitals earned the most, with a median annual salary of $76,450, as of May 2021. Those working for religious, professional, and nonprofit services made a median annual wage of $47,040.

According to Payscale, healthcare consultants earned an average annual salary of $79,970, as of July 2022. While you can land this job with a bachelor’s degree, some companies may require a master’s degree in either public health, business, or other related fields of study.

Epidemiologists earn a median annual salary of $78,830, as of May 2021, according to the BLS. Along with a bachelor’s degree, epidemiologists usually have a master’s in public health. The BLS projects 30% job growth for epidemiologists between 2020 and 2030.

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