Public Health at Andrews University

A bachelor's in public health from Andrews University comes with an estimated $27,000 in debt—roughly matching the national median for this degree—while similar programs across Michigan suggest first-year earnings around $36,181. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75 sits in manageable territory, meaning graduates could theoretically devote less than a year's salary to paying off their loans. However, the wide variation among Michigan's public health programs is striking: Oakland University graduates earn nearly $60,000 in their first year, while Wayne State sits closer to $32,500, suggesting that employer connections and program focus matter significantly in this field.

The challenge here is that we're working with estimates rather than Andrews' actual graduate outcomes, so there's inherent uncertainty about whether this specific program performs better or worse than its Michigan peers. What we do know is that public health bachelor's degrees nationally cluster in a relatively narrow earnings band, with most programs producing $37,500 to $42,000 in early-career income. If Andrews tracks near the state median, the debt load won't be crushing, but it won't offer the kind of immediate financial security that higher-earning alternatives provide.

For parents, this means asking harder questions: Does Andrews have partnerships with health departments or community organizations that lead to jobs? What percentage of graduates actually enter public health roles versus adjacent fields? With actual outcomes unavailable, you'll need to dig into placement data and alumni networks to determine whether this program delivers value that justifies the investment.