Public Health at California State University-Fullerton

Cal State Fullerton's Public Health program graduates students with notably low debt—just $13,500, far below both the state median of $15,265 and the national median of $26,000. That's the program's standout feature. However, first-year earnings of $34,909 trail both California's median ($39,078) and the national average ($37,548), placing graduates in the 40th percentile among California programs.

The low debt matters significantly here. While earnings lag behind schools like UC Berkeley ($48,351) or even CSU Chico ($45,339), the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 means graduates can manage their loans on entry-level salaries. For families concerned about financial burden—particularly relevant given that 47% of students receive Pell grants—this is a relatively affordable path into public health. The gap between this program and California's median earnings is real but not massive: about $4,000 annually in that first year.

The question is whether those lower starting earnings represent a temporary lag or a persistent ceiling. Public health careers often require additional credentials or experience to reach higher salary tiers, so the moderate sample size here doesn't tell us the full story about long-term outcomes. For students who need to minimize debt and plan to pursue graduate education or certifications anyway, this is a reasonable choice. For those hoping their bachelor's degree alone will launch them into the field's higher-paying positions, the earnings gap compared to top California programs is worth considering carefully.