Public Health at Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa

Bryant & Stratton's public health program carries a serious debt burden that should concern any parent looking at the numbers. Graduates leave with $52,060 in median debt—double the national median for public health programs and significantly above even Wisconsin's already-high state median of $40,809. That debt load paired with $37,500 in first-year earnings creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.39, meaning graduates owe nearly 1.4 times their annual salary.

The earnings picture offers little room for optimism. While graduates start at the Wisconsin median for public health majors—performing at the 60th percentile statewide—they see virtually no income growth over the next three years. Compare this to University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where public health graduates earn $41,585, or roughly $4,000 more annually. Over a decade, that gap compounds significantly, especially when you're carrying twice the debt load.

For families considering this program, the math is challenging. With 57% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are already stretching financially. Taking on $52,000 in debt for a career starting at $37,500 means years of constrained budgets and delayed financial milestones. Unless this program offers specific job placement advantages or career connections not reflected in the earnings data, the financial risk outweighs the potential return—particularly when the state's flagship university produces notably better outcomes for public health graduates.