2026 Subject Ranking

Best Graduate Schools for Public Health

The Public Health ranking compares universities for graduate study using subject strength and applicant demand. This page shows positions 1–30 from the full ranking. Each position belongs to a university, not an individual degree program. Open a university's program count to see and compare its matching graduate programs. It considers public health training, professional outcomes and the strength of programs across policy, research and practice.

University homepage. For program-level links, use GSN Explorer.
RankUniversityCountry
1Johns Hopkins UniversityUnited States
39 programs
2Harvard UniversityUnited States
13 programs
3London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineUnited Kingdom
5 programs
4University of North Carolina--Chapel HillUnited States
24 programs
5University of WashingtonUnited States
40 programs

Master's Programs

6University of OxfordUnited Kingdom
10 programs
7Columbia UniversityUnited States
25 programs
8Imperial College LondonUnited Kingdom
7 programs
9University of Michigan--Ann ArborUnited States
24 programs
10University College LondonUnited Kingdom
34 programs
11Yale UniversityUnited States
24 programs
12University of California, BerkeleyUnited States
18 programs
13University of TorontoCanada
4 programs
14Emory UniversityUnited States
31 programs
15Karolinska InstituteSweden
16Erasmus University RotterdamNetherlands
17University of CambridgeUnited Kingdom
7 programs
18University of California, Los AngelesUnited States
17 programs
19Boston UniversityUnited States
23 programs
20University of Minnesota--Twin CitiesUnited States
26 programs
21University of SydneyAustralia
1 program

Master's Programs

22University of MelbourneAustralia
1 program

Master's Programs

23University of PittsburghUnited States
25 programs
24National University of SingaporeSingapore
2 programs
25The University of Hong KongHong Kong
3 programs
26Peking UniversityChina
27McGill UniversityCanada
4 programs
28University of New South WalesAustralia
29Monash UniversityAustralia
30University of QueenslandAustralia

How this ranking is built

Graduate study is a career decision. These subject rankings help applicants compare where a degree may create the strongest long-term value, using evidence that reflects how graduate students actually choose and what they gain from their degrees.

We build subject rankings across 37 disciplines and publish the top 30 universities in each. Each university receives one position in the published table for that subject. That position reflects how the university performs across key ranking components, combined consistently for every institution in scope.

Key ranking components

  1. Research strengthDepth, quality, and influence of scholarship and faculty in the university or field.
  2. Employability and career outcomesGraduate placement, employer access, professional standing, alumni networks, and long-term options created by the degree.
  3. Global engagementInternational reach, cross-border relevance, and breadth of academic and professional networks.
  4. Learning experienceQuality and breadth of graduate study and the environment in which students learn, collaborate, and develop.
  5. Applicant demand and revealed preferenceApplication demand and choices admitted applicants make when they hold more than one offer.

Independent expert judgment calibrates the weight given to each component and checks that the resulting order makes sense. There is no one-size-fits-all balance across subjects: research-led fields place more emphasis on academic depth, while professional fields place more emphasis on career outcomes and professional training.

Questions About the Public Health Ranking

What does the Public Health ranking measure?
It compares the strength of graduate study in Public Health across universities using key ranking components: research strength; employability and career outcomes; global engagement; learning experience; and applicant demand and revealed preference. Independent expert judgment calibrates the weight given to each component for the field and checks that the resulting order makes sense.
Does the Public Health ranking compare universities or individual programs?
The ranking compares universities, not individual programs. Each university receives one position based on how its graduate offering in Public Health performs across the key ranking components. The programs listed beneath it help you explore your options; they do not receive separate ranks.
How should I use the Public Health ranking to build my shortlist?
Use it to identify universities worth investigating, then compare the linked programs for academic fit, admissions requirements, deadlines and costs. A higher position should inform your shortlist, not decide it for you.
Which countries are represented in the Public Health ranking?
United States (13), Australia (5), United Kingdom (5), Canada (2), China (1), Hong Kong (1), Netherlands (1), Singapore (1), and Sweden (1). The ranking is global and does not use a country quota.
Are higher-ranked universities usually harder to get into?
Often, but not always. Applicant demand and revealed preference are only part of the ranking. Research strength, career outcomes, global engagement, learning experience and field-specific calibration also shape the order. Admission standards still vary by degree level, specialization and individual program, even within the same university.

Explore Rankings and Programs

Public Health Program Directories

Choose a degree level and country to browse the full program directory.