Public Health at Drew University

At $27,000 in estimated debt, this program carries a higher borrowing burden than the typical public health bachelor's degree nationally, though first-year earnings projections of $44,423—based on the handful of comparable New Jersey programs—suggest the debt remains manageable at about seven months of gross income. Public health degrees often lead to entry-level positions in community health organizations, hospitals, or government agencies where salaries start modestly but provide stability and growth potential.

What complicates the picture here is Drew's private school pricing combined with very limited outcome data—the Department of Education suppresses figures when graduate cohorts are too small to report reliably. The earnings estimate comes from just three other New Jersey programs, while the debt figure reflects what students typically borrow at similar private institutions nationwide. For a field where state schools like Stockton and Rutgers produce comparable early earnings, parents should carefully weigh whether Drew's smaller program and liberal arts environment justify the likely higher total cost of attendance beyond what students borrow.

If your child is committed to public health and values Drew's intimate setting, verify the actual net price after aid and compare it directly against in-state alternatives. Given the thin data and the program's apparent small size, talking to current students or recent graduates about career placement becomes especially important.