What can you do with a Public Health degree from San Francisco State University?

First, some facts. Of the Public Health graduates from San Francisco State University 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 11 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 61%, Public Health graduates from San Francisco State University have a lower likelihood (-6%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 61%
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, only 9% 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 a Bachelors degree is enough for most Public Health graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Public Health graduate from San Francisco State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 2%

We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2014 from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Public Health. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Public Health Intern
National Kidney Foundation
May 2014 - Aug 2014
The Public Health Intern position at the National Kidney Foundation directly applies knowledge and skills learned in the Bachelor of Science in Public Health, focusing on health awareness and disease prevention relevant to kidney health.

Assistant Managing Director
Serra Mesa Laundry and Cleaners
Aug 2014 - Dec 2014
The role of Assistant Managing Director at Serra Mesa Laundry and Cleaners does not require any public health-specific knowledge or skills, making it unrelated to the Bachelor's degree in Public Health.

Correspondent
Mutual of America
Jan 2015 - Mar 2016
The Correspondent position at Mutual of America does not leverage specific public health knowledge or skills, as it is primarily focused on communication and reporting rather than health-related issues.

Senior Correspondent
Mutual of America
Mar 2015 - Mar 2016
The Senior Correspondent role at Mutual of America is similarly focused on communication and reporting, lacking any direct relevance to the specific skills and knowledge of public health developed during the Bachelor's program.

Student
San Diego Mesa College
Jun 2017 - Present
Being a student at San Diego Mesa College is an educational endeavor and does not involve the application of public health skills or knowledge in a professional context.

ABOUT

Pre-Nursing student seeking an opportunity in the medical field. Please message/contact me for further inquires.

What jobs can you get with a Public Health degree from San Francisco State University?

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


After looking at a variety of LinkedIn profiles of graduates from San Francisco State University with a degree in Public Health, it seems like a lot of them have landed jobs that are pretty relevant to their field. Common roles include positions like Health Educator, Public Health Interns, and Care Coordinators. These jobs directly use the skills and knowledge gained during their studies, focusing on community health initiatives, health education, and patient care management, which is where their degree really shines.

However, it’s a mixed bag overall. While many have found positions that align well with public health, there are those who ended up in roles that don’t utilize their degree much at all, like working in retail, as a correspondent, or even in legal support. These positions, even though they might have some interaction with health issues here and there, don’t really take advantage of the public health-specific training they've received. So, while some grads are diving straight into relevant work, others are still trying to find their footing in their chosen field. It's definitely important for new graduates to seek out those opportunities that will allow them to apply what they've learned and make a real impact in public health!

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Public Health graduates (this is across all Public Health graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to San Francisco State University):

What kind of career trajectories do Public Health graduates from San Francisco State University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

The career trajectories of graduates from the Public Health program at San Francisco State University show a mix of outcomes, but generally lean towards jobs relevant to public health after graduation. Many of these graduates often find themselves starting with internships, such as roles at the National Kidney Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, or local health clinics, which indicates a strong trend towards gaining practical experience right after school. This initial focus on internships seems to set a good foundation for their career paths in the health sector, translating into roles like Health Educator, Care Coordinator, and even positions at organizations like Planned Parenthood.

However, it’s important to note that while some graduates quickly move into solid public health roles, others take a route that’s less directly related to their degree. For instance, some have worked as cashiers or in roles outside of health services early in their careers. Looking five to ten years down the line, many graduates appear to advance within the health sector, taking on progressively responsible positions. For example, some graduates transitioned from intern roles to project coordinators or health specialists. Overall, while there are a few who find themselves in unrelated fields or uncertain paths, the majority seem to embed themselves in careers that align with their Public Health education, so there’s definitely a mix, but a hopeful trajectory for many!

How hard is a Public Health degree from San Francisco State University?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health can be a mixed bag when it comes to difficulty, and it really depends on your interests and strengths. At San Francisco State University, like many other places, you’ll tackle a range of topics from biology and statistics to social sciences and health policy, which can be pretty engaging if you’re into that stuff. Some students find the coursework manageable, especially if they're passionate about public health issues, while others might struggle with the heavier science classes or stats. Overall, it's not the easiest degree out there, but it's also not the hardest; it's really about how you connect with the material and stay organized. If you’re motivated and put in the effort, you’ll probably find a way to make it work!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 5 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Public Health.

Do Public Health graduates from San Francisco State University tend to make good money?

Looking at these Public Health grads from San Francisco State University, it seems like they’ve had a pretty mixed bag when it comes to making decent money. The earlier graduates, like the one from 2014, started off with internships and somewhat low-paying jobs, then ventured into roles that might have earned them more as they built experience, but it’s hard to say if they’re really cashing in yet. The 2016 grad has worked up to a client services associate, which likely pays better than entry-level roles, while the 2020 and 2021 grads have a mix of internships and entry-level jobs, which probably means they’re still on the lower end of the pay scale. The most recent grads, all from 2023, seem to be landing internships and low-paying assistant positions, which means they’re not exactly rolling in it either. Overall, it feels like they’re slowly climbing the ladder, but many are still navigating through lower-paying gigs, typical for folks just starting out in the field.

What buzzwords do Public Health 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 Public Health (this is across all Public Health graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to San Francisco State University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Public Health?

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

College Score Count
Wayne State University 94 13
California State University-Los Angeles 80 12
University of Florida 78 10
Brigham Young University 77 20
University of Houston 77 17
San Diego State University 77 13
Tulane University 77 21
Temple University 76 17
Rutgers University 76 21
The University of Texas at Austin 75 12
University of California, Berkeley 74 32
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 74 16
Syracuse University 73 10
Northern Illinois University 72 15
Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick 72 11
Southern Connecticut State University 72 17
University of North Carolina Wilmington 72 13
The University of Texas at San Antonio 70 20
The Johns Hopkins University 69 17
University of South Carolina 68 42
University of Kentucky 67 12
UC Irvine 67 24
University of Massachusetts, Amherst 67 13
Brigham Young University - Idaho 66 21
University of North Carolina at Greensboro 66 10
University of Massachusetts Amherst 66 20
University of South Carolina-Columbia 66 10
University of Washington 65 27
University of South Florida 64 59
Northern Arizona University 64 22
Eastern Kentucky University 64 11
University of Arizona 63 33
California State University, Northridge 63 14
San Jose State University 62 24
College of Charleston 62 14
The Ohio State University 61 13
San Francisco State University 61 11
East Carolina University 61 28
California State University, Fullerton 61 13
University of Nevada, Reno 61 19
Montclair State University 60 10
University of North Florida 58 13
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 57 11
Texas A&M University 56 16
California State University, Los Angeles 56 10
Kent State University 51 15
University of Arkansas 51 10
Oregon State University 44 17