25 Healthcare Majors with the Best Value

Continuing the trend of the last several years, registered nursing ranks high on our list of most valuable medical field majors. Registered nurses are in great demand, and to meet this need almost 2,000 schools offer this major. Registered nurses typically work directly with patients to diagnose and help manage their health conditions. They can elect to work with specific populations, such as children or elderly patients or those with chronic conditions. They may work in a medical office or clinic, a large hospital or in a community setting. Students who major in registered nursing learn medical science (e.g., physiology, anatomy, etc.), case management, coordinating care and resources, and community nursing. They also gain vital practical experience through clinical nursing education.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Registered Nurse

• Average salary: $75,510
• Average growth rate (job openings): 36,400

Learn more about the registered nursing/registered nurse major.

Second place on this year’s list of top medical field majors goes to healthcare administration and management. Today’s health care systems are big business and call for qualified managers to run operations within medical facilities and across healthcare systems. This health professions major provides healthcare-specific instruction in business and financial management and planning, public relations, human resources, policy, and health laws and regulations. This major prepares students for careers that are both in demand and lucrative; projected job growth for health services managers (2018-2028) is higher than average, at 18 percent, and the median salary in 2018 was close to six figures. Fortunately, students can find this major offered at more than 400 colleges.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Medical & Health Services Manager

• Average salary: $113,730
• Average growth rate (job openings): 120,000

Learn more about the health care administration/management major.

The nursing administration degree jumped from the No. 10 spot in our 2016 article to third place in this year’s list of top-ranked health majors. This reflects the increased demand for qualified administrators in the ever-growing field of nursing. It is also a relatively affordable healthcare major. A professional with a degree in nursing administration brings nursing-specific knowledge and skills in leadership, organizational management and advanced nursing principles to the healthcare setting. Nurse administrators are needed in healthcare facilities of various sizes and types, so graduates have a variety of specialties and work settings from which to choose.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Registered Nurse

• Average salary: $94,620
• Average growth rate (job openings): 120,000

Learn more about the nursing administration major.

Nursing students may be drawn to this major because it is affordable and yields high earning potential, with excellent job opportunities projected over the next decade. It provides training in evidence-based nursing and the application of research to practice, which prepares a nurse practitioner to stay attuned to industry developments and apply them to patient care. Students learn the medical sciences along with leadership, health economics, public health, medical policy, and how healthcare systems operate. Nurse practitioners, sometimes called advanced practice registered nurses, are also hands-on nurses who serve various patient populations and specializations. This major helps students learn about and choose from patient populations such as family practice, acute care, neonatal care, pediatrics and geriatric nursing.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Registered Nurse

• Average salary: $94,620
• Average growth rate (job openings): 36,400

Learn more about the nursing practice major.

Among our ranking of top medical majors, health services climbed from No. 11 on our 2016 list to No. 5 this year. Much like nursing administration, this major gives graduates a promising potential for future earnings, and job opportunities are expected to remain high over the next decade. Coursework prepares students to handle the many administrative aspects of health services, from finance and planning, to legal and government regulatory requirements, personnel management, healthcare ethics and patient care delivery. Hospitals employ more than one-third of health services administrators, with others working in physicians’ offices, nursing homes, residential care facilities, outpatient care clinics, and government.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Medical & Health Services Manager

• Average salary: $113,730
• Average growth rate (job openings): 57,550

Learn more about the health services administration major.

This major makes its first appearance on our list of top healthcare majors this year, in part because of the high earnings potential for clinical research coordinators and administrators. As the field of medical research continues to grow, the demand for these professionals is also expected to rise. Under the supervision of a lead investigator, these professionals organize, coordinate and administer clinical research trials. While pursuing this major, students typically take courses in medical terminology, pharmacology, the basics of clinical research, research design, project management, data management, ethics, and legal and regulatory compliance.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Clinical Resources Manager

• Average salary: $114,660
• Average growth rate (job openings): 36,400

This major earns a spot on our top healthcare majors because of its high earnings potential and solid employment prospects. The collection, analysis, and safeguarding of medical records and data continues to grow, and the regulations that apply to such records are strict and complex. Managing this key aspect of modern healthcare calls for professionals who are well-versed in health care management, technology and systems — which is exactly what this major provides. Graduates are prepared for careers such as medical office managers, medical record clerks and insurance claim coders.

Category Scores

Spotlight Career: Medical & Health Services Manager

• Average salary: $113,730
• Average growth rate (job openings): 203,600

Learn more about the health information & medical records administration major.

Nursing research applies evidence-based knowledge and experience to improve the quality of healthcare and influence medical policy. This research encompasses myriad factors (e.g., physiological, psychological, social, cultural, environmental and psychological). Nurse researchers (also called nurse investigators) usually have a master’s degree (MSN), but those with a bachelor’s degree (BSN) or Certificate in Nursing Research often play an important supporting role as research assistants, clinical research monitors and clinical data coordinators. They work in laboratories, universities, research organizations, private companies and nonprofit organizations. The research responsibilities of a BSN may include preparing clinical trial protocols; screening and educating trial participants; collecting and recording data while ensuring its validity; giving presentations at conferences; and mentoring or advising other healthcare professionals.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Registered Nurse

• Average salary: $75,510
• Average growth rate (job openings): 203,600

Learn more about the registered nursing major.

Adult health nursing makes its first appearance in our list of top 25 health majors this year. It has earned a spot on our list primarily due to the excellent job prospects graduates can expect over the coming decade. One reason: According to a U.S. Census Bureau report, population change estimates for the year ending in July 2018 show that between 2010 and 2018, while the nation’s under-age 18 population declined, the adult population grew by 19.2 million (8 percent). This is also an affordable major to pursue. This major provides instruction in many aspects of healthcare focused on adult patients, including primary care, management of treatments and medication, pathophysiology, assessment and patient education, referral to specialists, and health maintenance programs.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Registered Nurse

• Average salary: $75,510
• Average growth rate (job openings): 203,600

Learn more about the adult health nursing major.

This major has earned a spot on this year’s list of top health majors due to the promising employment opportunities for clinical nurse specialists projected over the next ten years. A clinical nurse specialist (CNS) provides direct patient care and advocacy in clinical settings. These professionals educate and communicate with patients and their families and caregivers. A CNS also mentors and consults with other nursing professionals to promote evidence-based practice and to translate research into practice. This major typically includes patient-focused courses in advanced clinical practice, health assessment, clinical pharmacotherapeutics, patient stabilization and care, holistic nursing and patient education. More administrative subjects include advanced clinical practice, administration and consultation services, and nursing practice and healthcare policy.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Registered Nurse

• Average salary: $75,510
• Average growth rate (job openings): 36,400

Learn more about the clinical nurse specialist major.

Community health and preventive medicine has moved higher on our list of top health majors, up from No. 17 in 2016. The jump is due to its high earnings potential and solid employment prospects. This major prepares students to work as health educators and health services resource managers at the community level. Courses include public health, health communication and promotion, human services, community health services and delivery, health behavior and cultural factors, family and community health, local government operations, environmental health, preventive medicine, epidemiology, biostatistics, and relevant laws and regulations. This major helps students understand the effects of chronic illnesses on the community and teaches them how to communicate complex health information to laypeople through public health campaigns and other outreach efforts.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Medical & Health Services Manager

• Average salary: $113,730
• Average growth rate (job openings): 28,750

Learn more about the community health and preventive medicine major.

This major is new to our list of top healthcare majors this year, largely due to the excellent earnings potential graduates with this degree can anticipate over the next ten years. The pharmaceutical industry is large, complex, and powerful, making it a promising career field. Students who major in pharmaceutical marketing take science courses such as biology, chemistry, pharmacology, and pharmaceutics to become familiar with the products in this industry. This is augmented with marketing and management studies that apply to the pharmaceutical industry. Students typically learn about pharmaceutical and medical product management, healthcare systems and legal issues.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Sales Manager

• Average salary: $143,780
• Average growth rate (job openings): 26,200

Learn more about the pharmaceutical marketing and management major.

Today’s healthcare facilities, whether large or small, are complex operations. With medical managers and clinical assistants are in demand, the major ranks on this year’s list due to its promising earning potential and employment prospects. Professionals provide administration and coordination of office systems, medical technology, and business and health information systems. This major typically includes instruction in healthcare management; medical office administration; training in one or more diagnostic, treatment, therapy, or laboratory specialties at the assistant level or above; medical law and regulations; and professional standards and ethics.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Administrative Services Manager

• Average salary: $106,050
• Average growth rate (job openings): 22,550

Learn more about the medical management and clinical assistant major.

Another major that is new to our list this year is general public health. In broad terms, public health professionals evaluate, regulate and address the health needs of the general population, with a focus on improving physical and mental health. They serve as health educators and health promotion specialists, working with target populations to prevent and manage chronic disease other health issues. This major ranked well in educational availability and earnings potential. Courses in this major typically include public health principles, professional standards and ethics, preventive medicine, biostatistics, environmental health, infectious diseases, nutrition, epidemiology, human development, age- and population-specific health issues, public communications, planning and administration of health education campaigns, evaluation methods, and public health policy and regulations.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Health Educator

• Average salary: $86,695
• Average growth rate (job openings): 203,600

Learn more about the general public health major.

Public health nurses promote health and preventive nursing services for groups and communities by educating people on warning signs and symptoms of disease or managing chronic health conditions. They may also operate health screenings, immunization clinics, blood drives, or other community outreach programs. Their work is usually supervised by a public health agency. There is currently a high demand for public health and community nurses, as evidenced by this major’s high ranking in employment opportunities. However, the number of colleges offering this major has yet to catch up with the demand. This major provides instruction in community health assessment, disease prevention, community and rural health, disease prevention, and family therapy and intervention.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Registered Nurse

• Average salary: $75,510
• Average growth rate (job openings): 15,400

Learn more about the public health major

Modern medicine is both “high touch and high tech,” with both sides of the coin necessary for the smooth operation of our healthcare systems. As computerization becomes increasingly integral to healthcare operations, there is a corresponding value placed on medical computer specialists. This is reflected in the future earnings potential for students pursuing this major. Courses in this major typically include medical hardware and software, healthcare informatics, systems administration and medical terminology. Becoming a medical computer specialist requires only an associate degree but earning a bachelor’s degree may help you land the job you want upon graduation and advance to a managerial position later on.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Computer Programmer

• Average salary: $89,580
• Average growth rate (job openings): 36,400

Learn more about the medical office computer specialist/assistant major.

This major prepares students to manage the administration of hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. It differs from medical management and clinical assisting in that there is a greater focus on facilities planning and building. The major has earned a spot on our 2020 list due to the high earnings potential and solid job opportunities graduates can anticipate. Coursework may include subjects such as health care policy, healthcare operations management, health informatics, financial management, analysis and accounting; business and contract law, and business statistics. Other key courses typically include building planning and design, insurance, fundraising and marketing, public relations, and project and personnel management.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Medical & Health Services Manager

• Average salary: $113,730
• Average growth rate (job openings): 5,300

Learn more about the health care facilities administration/management major.

Dietitians and clinical nutritionists have long been key staff members in hospitals and other inpatient medical facilities. This year, the major that launches students into those careers has earned a spot on our list top healthcare majors. This affordable major pays off in decent earnings potential and job opportunities. Graduates are prepared to integrate and apply the principles of food and nutrition science, biomedical science, and human behavior to plan and implement nutrition programs in various healthcare settings. They learn the impact of foods and nutrition on health promotion and disease prevention. Students also learn how to educate clients, plan and direct food service activities and to supervise food storage and preparation. Professional standards and regulations round out their instruction.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Dietician or Nutritionist

• Average salary: $61,210
• Average growth rate (job openings): 8,700

Learn more about the nutrition and dietetics major.

Maternal and child health is new on our list of top healthcare majors this year, mainly due to its affordability and solid employment prospects. This public health specialty addresses the health of women (including pregnancy and reproduction), infants and children, especially in impoverished communities and developing nations. Students in this major typically take general public health courses as well as specialized instruction in the health of women, children and families. The latter may include safe and healthy lifestyle tips for families, culturally appropriate approaches to health education, community health, family dynamics, fetal and child development, nutrition, women’s finance, social psychology and psychology. Students also learn research design and testing, program evaluation, public policy analysis, economics of healthcare and the delivery of social services.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Health Educator

• Average salary: $59,660
• Average growth rate (job openings): 52,900

Learn more about the public health major.

A cornerstone of modern medicine is the application of computer science and software engineering to medical research and clinical information technology — a specialty known as medical informatics. This includes the management and safe storage of digital records, including patient records. This aspect of healthcare calls for qualified specialists, so the major ranks well for both earnings potential and employment prospects after graduation. Students who major in medical informatics take courses in healthcare data systems architecture, IT fundamentals and security, networking and health information exchanges, medical terminology, medical coding and classification, electronic medical records, image processing, and telehealth. Graduates may pursue careers as health information managers, auditors and compliance officers, and specialists in clinical documentation and improvement.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Computer Occupations, all other

• Average salary: $100,715
• Average growth rate (job openings): 36,400

Learn more about the medical informatics major.

Another newcomer to our list is long-term care administration and management. This major prepares students to apply management principles to the administration of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home health services, and other settings that serve elderly and disabled patients. Graduates can look forward to a high earnings potential over the coming decade, in part due to the longevity of our nation’s senior citizen population. Instruction in this major may include the social and clinical aspects of aging, the administration of nursing homes and assisted living, the management of finances and human resources, healthcare systems, ethics, laws and regulations, and marketing.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Medical & Health Services Manager

• Average salary: $113,730
• Average growth rate (job openings): 13,600

Learn more about the long-term care management major.

This is a combined major that we presented as two separate majors on our 2016 list. Today this major is offered at almost 400 colleges. This type of program provides the clinical competency students need to become radiologic technologists. Courses include magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound technology and computed tomography (CT). Students in medical radiologic technology programs learn how to safely administer radiologic treatments, manage patients undergoing radiation therapy, and maintain patient records. Students are also instructed in medical terminology, applied anatomy and physiology, radiation biology and dosimetry, oncologic pathology, radiation oncology procedures and techniques, tumor localization, treatment planning, patient communication and management, data collection, record-keeping, and standards and regulations.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Radiologic Technologist

• Average salary: $61,540
• Average growth rate (job openings): 8,700

Learn more about the radiologic science major.

As healthcare systems expand and medical treatment becomes more complex, the role of health educators becomes even more important to helping patients navigate their way to better health. This major, new to our list in 2020, prepares students to serve as facilitators, advocates, and referral professionals linking healthcare and social services with communities. It is a specialization within the public health major and includes courses in public and community health, health services administration, human and social services, group advocacy, group counseling, health education, cross-cultural and multilingual communication, and applicable laws and policies. This major is available at many schools and is quite affordable.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Health Educator

• Average salary: $59,660
• Average growth rate (job openings): 36,400

Learn more about the public health major.

This major is making its first appearance on our list of top 25 healthcare majors, mainly because of its promising earnings potential. Graduates in this major can also look forward to ample job opportunities over the next ten years. Programs in this major prepare students to supervise and coordinate the operations of one or more patient care units in hospitals or other healthcare facilities. Nursing or medical service administrators supervise students during training. Instruction includes planning and initiating administrative procedures, interpersonal skills, personnel supervision, general and/or specialized healthcare operations and procedures, and consultation with other medical, nursing and administrative team members.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Medical & Health Services Manager

• Average salary: $113,730
• Average growth rate (job openings): 17,500

The dental hygiene/hygienist major has dropped from its No. 1 rank in our 2016 rankings but still made this year’s list of most valuable healthcare majors, as employment prospects remain strong. Dental hygienists typically need an associate degree in dental hygiene. Students who major in dental hygiene study subjects like pharmacology, radiology, immunology, dental anatomy and periodontics. They also gain practical experience in labs where they learn skills such as taking X-rays and making dental molds. This major can also prepare graduates to work in related fields such as teaching dental hygiene, administration and management, working in public health or corporate dental hygiene sales.

Category Rankings (out of 60)

Spotlight Career: Computer and Information Research Scientists

• Average salary: $75,500
• Average growth rate (job openings): 81,300

Learn more about the dental hygienist major