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

First, some facts. Of the Public Health graduates from San Jose 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 24 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 62%, Public Health graduates from San Jose State University have a slightly lower likelihood (-5%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 62%
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 29% 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 Jose State University 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 2022 from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Public Health. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Laboratory Technician
CoCoPath
Apr 2023 - Present
As a Laboratory Technician at CoCoPath, some knowledge from a Public Health degree could be applicable in areas like laboratory safety and health protocols, but the core qualifications and skills required for this job focus more on technical laboratory procedures rather than directly applying public health knowledge.

ABOUT

Passionate healthcare professional with 4+ years of experience in community, lab, and hospital settings. Dedicated to improving public health for people of all ages through disease surveillance, intervention, education. Flexible and dependable when working with others and open to building new skills. Motivated to learn, grow, and excel in community health.

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

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


From the profiles of graduates with a Public Health degree from San Jose State University, it looks like many of them ended up in job roles that cover a wide range of fields, but quite a few are closely aligned with health-related positions. A substantial number pursued roles as Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Clinical Nurses, which directly apply their public health knowledge and skills. Positions like these emphasize patient care and health assessments, making them very relevant. Graduates also took on roles like Community Health Workers and Health Educators, both of which demonstrate a clear commitment to promoting public health initiatives. These jobs are spot-on when it comes to utilizing what they learned during their studies, showing that a lot of them are making a difference in people’s health and well-being.

However, there are several graduates who landed in positions that don’t really tie back to public health. Roles such as Beauty Consultants, HR Specialists, or even Customer Support Representatives tend to lean more towards general skills like customer service or administrative tasks rather than applying core public health principles. So, while many graduates are doing important work in health-focused roles, it's clear that some have ventured off the beaten path into jobs that don't leverage their degree as effectively. In the end, it shows a mixed picture: a solid portion of alumni are indeed working in the public health field, but there are plenty of others who have taken different routes that don't quite make use of their education. It's a reminder that the skills learned in Public Health can sometimes be applied in unexpected ways, but they might not always be at the forefront of those jobs.

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 Jose State University):

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

Graduates from the Public Health program at San Jose State University tend to follow a trajectory that starts with entry-level positions in healthcare or related fields shortly after they complete their degrees. Many of them begin their careers in roles like health navigators, administrative interns, or community outreach specialists, gaining essential experience in the public health sector. As these individuals gain experience—often over the course of five years—they frequently transition into more specialized roles, such as public health investigators, clinical coordinators, or even clinical nursing positions, showcasing a clear shift towards more responsibility and expertise in their respective fields.

By the ten-year mark, many graduates have further advanced into significant roles that align more closely with public health, like community health educators, epidemiologists, or other leadership positions within healthcare organizations. While some have drifted into non-public health-related jobs, like HR roles or technical positions, the majority still seem to stick with careers associated with health or community services, indicating a solid commitment to the field. Overall, it seems like graduates from this program are generally doing well, finding relevant jobs that help them build the skills and experience necessary to thrive in the public health arena.

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

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, including one at San Jose State University, can be a bit challenging but definitely manageable if you stay on top of your studies and are organized. You’ll dive into a mix of science, statistics, and community health topics, so it’s not just a walk in the park. There will be some tough classes, especially if math and science aren’t your favorite subjects, but a lot of students find the material interesting and relevant, which makes the harder parts easier to handle. Overall, it’s probably about average in difficulty compared to other degrees, so if you’re willing to put in the effort, you can totally handle it!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 2 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Public Health.

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

Looking at the job histories of these Public Health graduates from San Jose State University, it seems like they’re doing relatively well in terms of income, especially when you consider the healthcare landscape. Many of them, especially those who landed positions as Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, Clinical Nurses, and Community Health Educators, are likely earning decent salaries, which typically hover in the higher range for entry to mid-level jobs in health-related fields. However, some others have more entry-level gigs or internships, which might not pay as well at the start, like the assistant roles and customer service positions. Overall, while the pay can vary a lot based on the specific positions and years of experience, it looks like most of these grads are on a pretty good path financially.

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 Jose 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