Public Health at Cornell University

Cornell's Public Health bachelor's comes with remarkably low debt—just $12,133 versus the $26,000 typical for this degree—but the earnings picture within New York is surprisingly middle-of-the-road. At $44,516, graduates earn well above the national median yet land only around the 60th percentile statewide, trailing several CUNY programs and regional universities. That's unexpected for an Ivy League credential with an 8% admission rate.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27 is excellent, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off loans in about three months of gross income. For families paying Cornell's full cost of attendance, though, actual total debt may look quite different than this median figure. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty—these numbers could swing significantly with just a few high or low earners included.

The practical takeaway: if you're paying in-state tuition at a CUNY school or getting substantial financial aid from Cornell, this could work well. But if Cornell means taking on private loans beyond what's captured here, understand that the public health bachelor's itself—even from an elite institution—doesn't command the earnings premium that might justify significant additional debt. The Cornell name opens doors, but first-year public health salaries don't necessarily reflect that advantage.