What can you do with a Health Studies degree?

First, some facts. Of the Health Studies graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 71 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 72%, Health Studies graduates have a slightly higher likelihood (+5%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 72%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 52% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Health Studies graduate.

See the details:

View a random Health Studies graduate and our analysis:


Relevance score: 50%

We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2019 from William Paterson University of New Jersey with a Bachelor's degree in Health Studies. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Program Support Assistant
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
May 2021 - Present
The role of Program Support Assistant at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs may involve organizational and administrative tasks that benefit from a health studies background, but it does not require specific health knowledge as a core qualification.

ABOUT

I am a recent graduate of William Paterson University, I have recently obtained a Bachelors of Science in Health Studies and a minor in Public Health. I am now looking for a full time position in the healthcare field. I have a positive work ethic as well as reliable and organized.

What jobs can you get with a Health Studies degree?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When examining the career paths of individuals with a degree in Health Studies, a distinct trend emerges regarding the types of jobs they commonly pursue. Many graduates find themselves in roles that have a direct connection to health and medical fields, such as Medical Assistants, Clinical Research Assistants, and various positions within healthcare organizations. In fact, roles like Vaccine Coordinator, Case Manager, and Occupational Therapist all showcase a substantial alignment with the educational background in Health Studies. These jobs often require practical application of skills learned in their programs, including patient care, health advocacy, and knowledge of healthcare systems.

However, not all career paths taken by Health Studies graduates are directly relevant to their degree. For instance, several individuals have taken on roles like Analyst or Manager in non-healthcare settings, such as real estate and pharmaceuticals, where the connection to health studies knowledge is minimal or even non-existent. While some of these roles might involve transferable skills—like project management or data analysis—they generally do not leverage the core health-specific training that these graduates received. In essence, while many jobs acquired by Health Studies graduates are indeed relevant and utilize their education, a fair number have ventured into fields where their degree's significance is diluted, showing a transitional versatility post-graduation.

Overall, it's clear that while graduates with a Health Studies degree often find fulfilling roles in the healthcare sector that utilize their specific skill sets, others may end up in roles that, although potentially rewarding, do not fully correlate with their academic training. This dichotomy highlights both the strength of a health studies degree in preparing individuals for direct healthcare roles and the broader range of job possibilities available to graduates that might not fully capitalize on their specialized knowledge.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Health Studies graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Health Studies graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When looking at the career trajectories of graduates with degrees in Health Studies, it’s pretty clear that there’s a mix of successful paths and some that veer off into various unrelated fields. Many graduates seem to kick off their professional lives in positions that are directly linked to healthcare, which is a solid indicator of the degree’s relevance. For instance, graduates from Boise State University, Boston University, and Utica College have taken on roles like Vaccine Coordinator, Medical Assistant, and Occupational Therapist right after graduation. This trend suggests that a lot of individuals are finding jobs that utilize their education pretty quickly, which is a good sign for anyone considering a career in this field.

However, as we look a bit further down the road—let's say five to ten years after graduation—the picture gets a bit more mixed. Some individuals manage to climb the ladder in their chosen fields or pivot into related roles, while others find themselves in jobs that don't quite match the Health Studies degree. For example, the graduate from The University of Memphis who started as an analyst at CBRE—definitely not a typical healthcare role—has moved up the ranks but strayed far from the health sector. This points to a common theme where graduates may start in healthcare but end up in other industries, potentially due to the broad skill set they acquire during their studies.

In contrast, others stick to their guns in the healthcare field, such as those who continue as Occupational Therapists or work in nursing roles. For instance, a graduate from the University of Rhode Island who is now a Registered Nurse showcases how some stick to their health-focused paths, which can lead to really fulfilling careers. So, it’s clear some folks are staying true to their health studies roots, progressing into meaningful roles within that area. However, many aren’t as lucky, often landing in jobs that don’t utilize their specific knowledge or start venturing into entirely different fields. This can raise questions about the practicality of the degree and whether it sets students up effectively for long-term success in health-related careers.

Overall, Health Studies graduates have a varied landscape ahead of them. While many begin their careers in health-related roles, the long-term success of these graduates can fluctuate, with some sticking close to their field while others veer off into completely different industries. It’s an okay degree with potential, but the results show that it’s equally important for students to be adaptable and ready to carve their own paths in whatever direction their careers may lead.

How hard is a Health Studies degree?

A Bachelor degree in Health Studies can be a bit of a mixed bag in terms of difficulty—it really depends on your interests and strengths. If you're into science and enjoy subjects like biology or psychology, you might find it pretty manageable. There's definitely a lot of reading, research, and some complex concepts to grasp, but it’s generally considered more accessible than something like pre-med or engineering. However, if you're not super excited about those subjects or struggle with writing essays and projects, you might find it a little tougher. Overall, it's about average in terms of difficulty, but you can totally handle it if you're motivated and stay on top of your work!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Health Studies.

Do Health Studies graduates tend to make good money?

Looking at these graduates, the financial success seems to vary quite a bit. For example, the University of Memphis graduate who climbed from Analyst to Senior Analyst and then Supervisor at CBRE clearly shows some solid upward mobility in a well-paying industry. But then you have the Boise State grad, starting as a Vaccine Coordinator and moving through medical assistant roles, where the pay probably isn’t as high, especially in those earlier positions. The physical therapy and healthcare fields do have potential for good income, but the starting roles often don't pay much.

On the whole, while some of these individuals have very promising careers that could lead to decent salaries as they gain experience, others are still in roles that might not pay a whole lot right now. It’s also worth noting that graduates with entrepreneurial ventures (like the co-founder from Utica University) could be doing well, but it’s hard to tell without specific income numbers. Overall, there’s a mix of potential high earners and some who may have to work their way up from the bottom for a better paycheck.

What buzzwords do Health Studies graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Health Studies. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Health Studies?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Health Studies (ordered by the average relevance score of their Health Studies graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count