Compare 194 Public Health. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $56,398. Top programs: $101,771+.
With top graduates earning $102K, Public Health stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $45K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige. Across 194 ranked programs, outcomes track program quality, not school reputation.
Duke University's Public Health program leads with graduates earning $102K, well above the $56K field average. What's striking: Montana Technological University and Oakland University—open-access public schools—land in the top six, with graduates earning $87K and $85K respectively. Prestige doesn't predict outcomes here; program quality does.
For students borrowing on their own, Duke leads on debt burden: graduates carry just $13K in student loans against a 2.2% payment burden—firmly 'Excellent' by GPS affordability standards. For families factoring in parent loans, Montana Technological University is the standout, with a combined family burden of just 6.9%, also rated 'Excellent'—on $87K earnings from a school that admits over 91% of applicants.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Duke UniversityPrivate | $101,771 | 41 | $13,000 | Excellent | $27,998 | Excellent |
| #2 | $99,671 | 17 | — | — | — | — | |
| #3 | $89,522 | 128 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Good | |
| #4 | George Washington UniversityPrivate | $87,217 | 116 | $20,449 | Excellent | $30,881 | Good |
| #5 | $86,855 | 20 | $18,750 | Excellent | $12,000 | Excellent | |
| #6 | Oakland UniversityPublic | $85,266 | 25 | $22,750 | Excellent | $17,858 | Good |
| #7 | $84,790 | 19 | $20,482 | Excellent | $28,767 | Good | |
| #8 | Elon UniversityPrivate | $81,153 | 48 | $20,500 | Excellent | $46,609 | Manageable |
| #9 | Johns Hopkins UniversityPrivate | $79,113 | 143 | $10,250 | Excellent | $29,048 | Good |
| #10 | $78,928 | 101 | $19,500 | Excellent | $30,250 | Manageable | |
| #11 | University Of GeorgiaPublic | $78,085 | 152 | $18,500 | Excellent | $20,855 | Good |
| #12 | $77,329 | 32 | $26,063 | Excellent | $31,387 | Manageable | |
| #13 | $76,572 | 210 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Good | |
| #14 | $75,867 | 38 | $19,000 | Excellent | $51,114 | Challenging | |
| #15 | $75,679 | 9 | $26,000 | Excellent | $26,233 | Manageable | |
| #16 | Tufts UniversityPrivate | $75,448 | 71 | $16,250 | Excellent | $38,325 | Manageable |
| #17 | $74,633 | 394 | $21,500 | Excellent | $25,294 | Manageable | |
| #18 | Brown UniversityPrivate | $74,496 | 74 | $11,428 | Excellent | $48,245 | Manageable |
| #19 | Rivier UniversityPrivate | $72,965 | 7 | $26,956 | Excellent | $23,985 | Manageable |
| #20 | Drexel UniversityPrivate | $72,736 | 17 | $25,325 | Excellent | $40,932 | Challenging |
| #21 | Chapman UniversityPrivate | $72,529 | 116 | $20,500 | Excellent | $44,954 | Challenging |
| #22 | $72,419 | 11 | $27,000 | Excellent | $20,004 | Manageable | |
| #23 | $72,328 | 458 | $19,000 | Excellent | $35,200 | Manageable | |
| #24 | New York UniversityPrivate | $70,840 | 43 | $20,500 | Excellent | $64,795 | High |
| #25 | American UniversityPrivate | $70,831 | 76 | $22,750 | Excellent | $39,169 | 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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
