Compare 40 Public Health. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $43,462.
The highest-earning Public Health program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $36K earnings gap across 40 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Illinois State University's Public Health program leads with graduates earning $76,175—well above the $43,462 average across all programs. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign follows at $61,751, while Indiana University-Bloomington reaches $60,955. These outcomes reflect program strength, not overall institutional rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Illinois State University graduates borrow $20,482 and face just a 5.2% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire leads with a 12.8% family burden, proving the best choice depends on who's paying.
Highest program earnings: $76,175
Strong outcomes with 89% acceptance
5.2% payment burden | Excellent
12.8% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $76,175 | 43 | $20,482 | Excellent | $28,767 | Manageable | |
| #2 | $61,751 | 193 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Challenging | |
| #3 | $60,955 | 210 | $19,509 | Excellent | $32,850 | Challenging | |
| #4 | $60,424 | 10 | $20,909 | Excellent | $12,452 | Manageable | |
| #5 | Oakland UniversityPublic | $60,142 | 28 | $22,750 | Good | $17,858 | Manageable |
| #6 | University Of St ThomasPrivate | $59,475 | 53 | $23,250 | Good | $24,467 | Challenging |
| #7 | $57,074 | 105 | $19,976 | Excellent | $25,868 | Challenging | |
| #8 | $54,930 | 66 | $19,500 | Good | $29,448 | Challenging | |
| #9 | Winona State UniversityPublic | $50,899 | 19 | $21,500 | Good | $19,316 | Challenging |
| #10 | $48,634 | 102 | $20,000 | Good | $17,205 | Challenging | |
| #11 | St Catherine UniversityPrivate | $48,071 | 71 | $24,181 | Manageable | $21,883 | High |
| #12 | $47,980 | 26 | $21,710 | Good | $12,000 | Challenging | |
| #13 | $46,816 | 29 | $16,704 | Good | $24,323 | High | |
| #14 | Saint Louis UniversityPrivate | $45,608 | 36 | $25,000 | Manageable | $34,177 | High |
| #15 | University Of Detroit MercyPrivate | $44,785 | 19 | $23,250 | Manageable | $22,484 | High |
| #16 | $43,053 | 20 | $21,058 | Manageable | $11,598 | Challenging | |
| #17 | $42,887 | 56 | $22,500 | Manageable | $16,958 | High | |
| #18 | $42,596 | 181 | $24,500 | Manageable | $21,394 | High | |
| #19 | $41,007 | 8 | $27,000 | Challenging | $23,103 | High | |
| #20 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $39,956 | 37 | $15,000 | Good | $26,966 | High |
| #21 | $39,729 | 13 | $19,174 | Manageable | $10,400 | Challenging | |
| #22 | University Of ToledoPublic | $39,369 | 23 | $22,250 | Challenging | $19,243 | High |
| #23 | University Of IndianapolisPrivate | $39,219 | 14 | $26,864 | Challenging | $23,490 | High |
| #24 | $38,796 | 21 | $19,000 | Manageable | $15,945 | High | |
| #25 | $38,781 | 23 | $25,000 | Challenging | $16,878 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
