Public Health at Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa

Bryant & Stratton's Public Health associate program asks students to take on significantly more debt than most comparable programs nationwide—$30,312 versus a $20,000 national median—though earnings do land above the national average. The nearly dollar-for-dollar debt-to-income ratio (0.90) means graduates face roughly their entire first year's salary in student loans, a heavier burden than at most public health associate programs where debt tends to be more manageable.

The earnings trajectory offers some reassurance: graduates start at $33,828 and see 12% growth to $38,013 by year four, which ranks them in the 75th percentile nationally. However, this appears to be the only associate-level public health program tracked in Wisconsin, so the "60th percentile" state ranking is less meaningful—there simply isn't local competition for comparison. With 57% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are price-sensitive, making that above-average debt load particularly significant.

For parents, the question comes down to whether the premium price point justifies slightly above-average earnings. The program does deliver better outcomes than three-quarters of similar programs nationally, but you're paying roughly 50% more in debt to get there. If your student can access this field through a community college or state school with lower borrowing, that's worth exploring first.