Compare 72 Public Health. programs in the South. Average earnings: $42,709.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Public Health tells a different story. Across 72 programs, earnings range from $46,675 to $77,335—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
Johns Hopkins University's Public Health program leads with graduates earning $77,335, well above the $42,709 average. But the rankings reveal surprises: Shenandoah University, with a 78% acceptance rate, produces graduates earning $63,571—proof that accessible programs can deliver strong outcomes when evaluated independently of institutional prestige.
Johns Hopkins delivers on multiple fronts—top earnings with just a 2.6% payment burden for students, earning an 'Excellent' affordability rating. With graduates borrowing only $10,250, the debt-to-earnings ratio hits 0.13, meaning the entire student debt load equals about 1.5 months of salary.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Johns Hopkins UniversityPrivate | $77,335 | 171 | $10,250 | Excellent | $29,048 | Good |
| #2 | Shenandoah UniversityPrivate | $63,571 | 19 | $25,000 | Good | $46,387 | High |
| #3 | George Washington UniversityPrivate | $59,322 | 63 | $20,449 | Excellent | $30,881 | Challenging |
| #4 | $58,660 | 7 | $27,000 | Good | $20,004 | Challenging | |
| #5 | $58,549 | 101 | $21,000 | Good | $15,191 | Manageable | |
| #6 | $58,232 | 417 | $19,000 | Excellent | $35,200 | Challenging | |
| #7 | University Of GeorgiaPublic | $57,204 | 168 | $18,500 | Excellent | $20,855 | Manageable |
| #8 | American UniversityPrivate | $56,709 | 84 | $22,750 | Good | $39,169 | High |
| #9 | University Of FloridaPublic | $54,610 | 254 | $15,000 | Excellent | $18,837 | Manageable |
| #10 | $54,491 | 268 | $20,500 | Good | $26,632 | Challenging | |
| #11 | University Of DelawarePublic | $53,358 | 129 | $24,572 | Good | $43,000 | High |
| #12 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $53,066 | 184 | $19,500 | Good | $25,142 | Challenging |
| #13 | $48,997 | 51 | $20,500 | Good | $38,513 | High | |
| #14 | University Of ArkansasPublic | $48,807 | 79 | $21,500 | Good | $28,086 | High |
| #15 | $48,403 | 38 | $21,500 | Good | $19,809 | Challenging | |
| #16 | $48,333 | 15 | $22,500 | Good | $14,730 | Challenging | |
| #17 | $47,286 | 6 | $29,000 | Manageable | $19,929 | High | |
| #18 | $47,230 | 231 | $20,500 | Good | $13,859 | Challenging | |
| #19 | $46,950 | 34 | $19,442 | Good | $16,938 | Challenging | |
| #20 | $46,675 | 25 | $17,367 | Good | $11,366 | Manageable | |
| #21 | $46,614 | 244 | $17,988 | Good | $15,541 | Challenging | |
| #22 | $46,562 | 22 | $26,000 | Manageable | $42,541 | High | |
| #23 | College Of CharlestonPublic | $45,192 | 143 | $23,250 | Manageable | $35,971 | High |
| #24 | Elon UniversityPrivate | $45,011 | 76 | $20,500 | Manageable | $46,609 | High |
| #25 | $44,854 | 76 | $22,250 | Manageable | $15,753 | Challenging |
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 →
