Public Health at Christian Brothers University

At $27,000 in estimated debt against first-year earnings near $37,500, this program tracks closely with national public health benchmarks—a debt load that amounts to about 72% of first-year income. That's a manageable ratio in absolute terms, though parents should recognize these figures come from comparable bachelor's programs nationwide, not Christian Brothers' actual graduate outcomes.

The earnings estimate sits right at the national median for public health degrees but notably above Tennessee's typical $34,378. However, actual reported outcomes from nearby programs show considerable spread: East Tennessee State produces $38,435 while Middle Tennessee State averages just over $30,000. Public health is a field where entry-level positions often require additional credentials or years of experience before reaching higher salary tiers, which means that first-year figure may understate the degree's long-term value while also explaining why many graduates pursue master's degrees.

The real question is whether Christian Brothers' smaller program size (which causes the data suppression) translates to meaningful advantages like networking or mentorship that could justify costs matching larger state universities. With 31% of students receiving Pell grants and an 88% admission rate, this isn't a highly selective environment, so much of your child's success will depend on their initiative in securing internships and building connections in Memphis's public health sector.