Trends in Degree Conferrals, Degree-Associated Debt, and Employment Outcomes Among Undergraduate Public Health Degree Graduates, 2001‒2020

Abstract

Objectives. To characterize the trends in degree conferrals, degree-associated debt, and employment outcomes among undergraduate public health degree (UGPHD) graduates. Methods. We reported administrative data on degree conferrals from 2001 to 2020 from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). For alumni graduating from 2015 to 2019, we also reported degree-associated debt and earnings 1 year after graduation compiled by NCES. Finally, we utilized a data set on 1-year postgraduation employment outcomes for graduates from 2015 to 2020 from the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health. Results. As of 2020, more than 18 000 UGPHDs were awarded each year, more than 140 000 in total over the past 20 years. UGPHD graduates are highly diverse, with more than 80% being women and 55% being individuals from communities of color. We find alumni worked mostly in for-profit organizations (34%), health care (28%), nonprofits (11%), academic organizations (10%), government (10%), and other (6%). Degree-associated debt was $24 000, and the median first-year earnings were $34 000. Conclusions. While growth in UGPHD conferrals has slowed, it remains among the fastest-growing degree in the nation. However, the limited pathways into government remains a significant challenge. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(1):115–123. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307113 )

Engaging Public Health Alumni in the Tracking of Career Trends: Results From a Large-Scale Experiment on Survey Fielding Mode

“…4,[22][23][24][25][26] With increased investments, graduate outcomes will undoubtedly be of renewed interest to students and funders alike. Especially now, as the number of awarded public health undergraduate degrees has surpassed the number of awarded public health master's degrees for the first time in the United States, 27 substantial work is needed to track longterm trends among alumni to understand the value of their public health education and the extent to which alumni are contributing to essential public health operations in the United States. However, given the decades-long break in systematic studies of career trends, much is unknown about how best to execute these data collection initiatives.…”

Unpacking Public Health Implications of the 2023 Supreme Court Ruling on Race-Conscious Admissions

“…Given that the SCOTUS decision will negatively impact undergraduate admissions, a third approach is to increase the number of programs and the percentage of people from racial and ethnic minoritized groups enrolled in undergraduate public health programs. Undergraduate programs have more racial/ethnic diversity than graduate programs, and early exposure helps prepare students for entry-level positions in the public health workforce (Leider et al, 2015; Leider, Burke, et al, 2023). In response to the anthrax and 9/11 terrorist attacks (Leider, Burke, et al, 2023; Rosenfield et al, 2002), undergraduate public health degree conferrals rose from 1,448 in 2003 to 12,895 in 2016 (Resnick et al, 2018).…”

“…Undergraduate programs have more racial/ethnic diversity than graduate programs, and early exposure helps prepare students for entry-level positions in the public health workforce (Leider et al, 2015; Leider, Burke, et al, 2023). In response to the anthrax and 9/11 terrorist attacks (Leider, Burke, et al, 2023; Rosenfield et al, 2002), undergraduate public health degree conferrals rose from 1,448 in 2003 to 12,895 in 2016 (Resnick et al, 2018). Many attributed this to an increase in building a more robust public health infrastructure (Leider, Burke, et al, 2023; Rosenfield et al, 2002).…”

“…In response to the anthrax and 9/11 terrorist attacks (Leider, Burke, et al, 2023; Rosenfield et al, 2002), undergraduate public health degree conferrals rose from 1,448 in 2003 to 12,895 in 2016 (Resnick et al, 2018). Many attributed this to an increase in building a more robust public health infrastructure (Leider, Burke, et al, 2023; Rosenfield et al, 2002). Given the recent global public health challenges posed by COVID-19, monkeypox, and wildfires, more public health programs with diverse student bodies will be needed to create a workforce that mirrors the population.…”

Public health workforce survey data (2016–2021) related to employee turnover: proposed methods for harmonization and triangulation

“…Though we acknowledge that worker competencies also play a significant role in workforce readiness, a comprehensive examination of competencies is beyond the scope of this manuscript, as we only focus on workforce numbers. This methods report builds upon the foundation of prior harmonization work (14)(15)(16)(17) and details how the authors harmonized and triangulated data from recent iterations of PH WINS (2021), the NACCHO Profile (2019), the NACCHO FOC survey (2020), and the ASTHO Profile (2019). We later describe the results of our harmonization and triangulation, focusing on variables related to turnover [including both voluntary and involuntary leave, which have different triggers (18)], and we also detail the limitations of our current work.…”