Public Health: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 256 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$131,463 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
20.5 yrsModeled economic break-even
−51%Modeled 10-year ROI
$57,499Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$57,499Median reported earnings · year 4
$57,638Average reported earnings · year 5
$25,875Median federal debt
41thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
256Reporting programs
217With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $36,698
- Federal debt
- $17,726
- Reporting programs
- 8
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $43,403
- Federal debt
- $21,789
- Reporting programs
- 22
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,499
- Federal debt
- $25,875
- Reporting programs
- 256
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $77,605
- Federal debt
- $20,716
- Reporting programs
- 8
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $79,533
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 207
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $111,411
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 10
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $77,992
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 5
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $95,664
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 9
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$50,517National median$57,49975th percentile$63,884
217 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Duke University$101,7712Utah State University$93,1613University of Southern California$89,5224George Washington University$87,2175Montana Technological University$86,8556Oakland University$85,2667Illinois State University$84,7908Elon University$81,1539Johns Hopkins University$79,11310University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$78,928Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1071 · 11 crosswalk linksMedical and Health Services ManagersSOC 11-9111 · 7 crosswalk linksCommunity Health WorkersSOC 21-1094 · 5 crosswalk linksHealth Education SpecialistsSOC 21-1091 · 5 crosswalk linksOccupational Health and Safety SpecialistsSOC 19-5011 · 3 crosswalk linksOccupational Health and Safety TechniciansSOC 19-5012 · 3 crosswalk linksCompliance OfficersSOC 13-1041 · 1 crosswalk linksEnvironmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthSOC 19-2041 · 1 crosswalk linksEpidemiologistsSOC 19-1041 · 1 crosswalk linksGenetic CounselorsSOC 29-9092 · 1 crosswalk linksMedical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsSOC 19-1042 · 1 crosswalk linksPhysicistsSOC 19-2012 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke UniversityBachelor's Degree | Durham, NC | $101,771 | $12,500 | +90% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Utah State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Logan, UT | $93,161 | Not available | +101% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | University of Southern CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $89,522 | $15,250 | +43% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | George Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $87,217 | $23,822 | +29% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Montana Technological UniversityBachelor's Degree | Butte, MT | $86,855 | $27,000 | +70% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Oakland UniversityBachelor's Degree | Rochester Hills, MI | $85,266 | $30,750 | +86% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Illinois State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Normal, IL | $84,790 | $22,250 | +54% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Elon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Elon, NC | $81,153 | $20,500 | +4% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Johns Hopkins UniversityBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $79,113 | $12,750 | +34% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $78,928 | $18,903 | +46% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | University of GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Athens, GA | $78,085 | $21,500 | +40% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | California Baptist UniversityBachelor's Degree | Riverside, CA | $77,329 | $35,287 | +13% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | University of California, BerkeleyBachelor's Degree | Berkeley, CA | $76,572 | $11,729 | +35% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | Franklin and Marshall CollegeBachelor's Degree | Lancaster, PA | $75,867 | $20,875 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Bloomsburg, PA | $75,679 | Not available | +26% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | Tufts UniversityBachelor's Degree | Medford, MA | $75,448 | $18,250 | -10% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $74,633 | $26,000 | +7% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | Brown UniversityBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $74,496 | $11,760 | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | Rivier UniversityBachelor's Degree | Nashua, NH | $72,965 | $27,000 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Drexel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $72,736 | $27,000 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Chapman UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orange, CA | $72,529 | $23,250 | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | North Carolina A&T State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Greensboro, NC | $72,419 | Not available | +23% | Positive payoff |
| 23 | University of Maryland-College ParkBachelor's Degree | College Park, MD | $72,328 | $23,424 | +13% | Positive payoff |
| 24 | New York UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $70,840 | $19,000 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | American UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $70,831 | $23,452 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | University of DelawareBachelor's Degree | Newark, DE | $70,793 | $25,000 | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 27 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $70,369 | $18,500 | +2% | Positive payoff |
| 28 | National UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $70,340 | $37,469 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Syracuse UniversityBachelor's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $69,776 | $27,000 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $68,605 | $17,580 | +14% | Positive payoff |
| 31 | University of Florida-OnlineBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $68,605 | $17,580 | +18% | Positive payoff |
| 32 | Indiana University-BloomingtonBachelor's Degree | Bloomington, IN | $68,038 | $19,689 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | University of ArkansasBachelor's Degree | Fayetteville, AR | $67,891 | $25,595 | -9% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | University of Central OklahomaBachelor's Degree | Edmond, OK | $67,452 | $21,625 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $66,937 | $21,699 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $66,892 | $21,500 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $66,732 | $18,856 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | The College of New JerseyBachelor's Degree | Ewing, NJ | $66,722 | $23,130 | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Carroll UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waukesha, WI | $66,494 | Not available | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $66,110 | $15,280 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $65,978 | $20,678 | -12% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | California State University, San BernardinoBachelor's Degree | San Bernardino, CA | $65,961 | Not available | +6% | Positive payoff |
| 43 | University of Massachusetts-LowellBachelor's Degree | Lowell, MA | $65,429 | $27,000 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | George Mason UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fairfax, VA | $65,358 | $22,000 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | West Virginia UniversityBachelor's Degree | Morgantown, WV | $64,888 | $24,000 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Allegheny CollegeBachelor's Degree | Meadville, PA | $64,595 | $27,000 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Simmons UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $64,514 | $27,000 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | University at AlbanyBachelor's Degree | Albany, NY | $64,456 | $25,086 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | Rider UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lawrenceville, NJ | $64,454 | Not available | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $64,275 | $25,044 | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $64,275 | $25,044 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 52 | Missouri Southern State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Joplin, MO | $63,965 | Not available | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | University of North Carolina at CharlotteBachelor's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $63,965 | $27,000 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Regis CollegeBachelor's Degree | Weston, MA | $63,892 | $27,000 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | CUNY Hunter CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $63,884 | Not available | -2% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstBachelor's Degree | Amherst, MA | $63,854 | $26,000 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $63,666 | $16,490 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | University of Washington-Bothell CampusBachelor's Degree | Bothell, WA | $63,666 | $16,490 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | University of Washington-Tacoma CampusBachelor's Degree | Tacoma, WA | $63,666 | $16,490 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Saint Louis UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $63,652 | $26,122 | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Agnes Scott CollegeBachelor's Degree | Decatur, GA | $63,621 | Not available | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | Xavier University of LouisianaBachelor's Degree | New Orleans, LA | $63,204 | $27,000 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Walden UniversityBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $63,061 | $45,793 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireBachelor's Degree | Eau Claire, WI | $63,016 | Not available | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Oregon State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Corvallis, OR | $62,633 | $24,000 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBachelor's Degree | Bend, OR | $62,633 | $24,000 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Lindenwood UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Charles, MO | $62,455 | $27,000 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | Central Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ellensburg, WA | $62,435 | $20,326 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | Georgia College & State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Milledgeville, GA | $62,386 | $27,000 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | Ohio University-Eastern CampusBachelor's Degree | Saint Clairsville, OH | $62,153 | $27,000 | -12% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Ohio University-Chillicothe CampusBachelor's Degree | Chillicothe, OH | $62,153 | $27,000 | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Ohio University-Southern CampusBachelor's Degree | Ironton, OH | $62,153 | $27,000 | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | Ohio University-Lancaster CampusBachelor's Degree | Lancaster, OH | $62,153 | $27,000 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | Ohio University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Athens, OH | $62,153 | $27,000 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | Ohio University-Zanesville CampusBachelor's Degree | Zanesville, OH | $62,153 | $27,000 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | Northern Arizona UniversityBachelor's Degree | Flagstaff, AZ | $61,757 | $24,250 | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Western Carolina UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cullowhee, NC | $61,698 | $26,343 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | Caldwell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Caldwell, NJ | $61,691 | Not available | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | Kennesaw State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kennesaw, GA | $61,665 | $28,479 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | Louisiana State University-ShreveportBachelor's Degree | Shreveport, LA | $61,423 | Not available | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $61,390 | $21,500 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | St Catherine UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $61,169 | $29,815 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | San Diego State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $60,904 | $13,812 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | University of North Carolina WilmingtonBachelor's Degree | Wilmington, NC | $60,722 | $23,500 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Slippery Rock, PA | $60,530 | $26,998 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | University of California, IrvineBachelor's Degree | Irvine, CA | $60,430 | $17,285 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | Mercer UniversityBachelor's Degree | Macon, GA | $60,401 | $27,000 | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | Truman State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kirksville, MO | $60,157 | $23,278 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | Stockton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Galloway, NJ | $59,871 | $26,000 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | University of Minnesota-DuluthBachelor's Degree | Duluth, MN | $59,639 | $26,000 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | East Carolina UniversityBachelor's Degree | Greenville, NC | $59,566 | $25,750 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | University of St ThomasBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $59,389 | $27,000 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | American Public University SystemBachelor's Degree | Charles Town, WV | $59,240 | $28,999 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | St Petersburg CollegeBachelor's Degree | St. Petersburg, FL | $59,200 | $29,125 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | University of KentuckyBachelor's Degree | Lexington, KY | $59,163 | $23,250 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | Westminster UniversityBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $58,974 | $24,656 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | Portland State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Portland, OR | $58,860 | $27,000 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | The University of TampaBachelor's Degree | Tampa, FL | $58,777 | $25,250 | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | University of South Carolina-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, SC | $58,715 | $24,958 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | Hofstra UniversityBachelor's Degree | Hempstead, NY | $58,610 | $26,000 | -57% | Negative payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.