Location: Durham, NC•In-State Tuition: $65,805•Admission Rate: 7%•Avg SAT: 1539
Median Earnings (1yr)
$45,921
94th percentile
60th percentile in North Carolina
Median Debt
$12,500
52% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.27 ManageableSample: 35 graduates

Analysis

Duke's Public Health program carries an elite university price tag but delivers surprisingly middle-of-the-road outcomes for North Carolina. While first-year earnings of $45,921 beat the national median by 22%, several in-state public universities—notably NC A&T at $58,660 and UNC Greensboro at $42,239—produce comparable or better results. The 60th percentile ranking among North Carolina public health programs is particularly striking given Duke's 7% admission rate and stratospheric SAT scores. You're essentially paying Ivy-adjacent tuition for outcomes that land in the middle of the state pack.

The silver lining here is debt: at just $12,500, Duke's graduates carry less than half the typical burden for this field ($26,000 nationally). That 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio means Duke's financial aid is doing real work to offset sticker prices for those who receive it. Still, this translates to roughly 3 months of gross salary in debt—excellent on paper, but the question remains whether Duke's selectivity and resources should yield better than 60th-percentile state outcomes.

For families paying full freight at Duke, this deserves scrutiny. The debt story only helps students receiving substantial aid, and even they're looking at first-year earnings that trail NC A&T graduates by nearly $13,000. Unless Duke opens specific career doors in your family's situation, the state's public options offer better value in this particular program.

Where Duke University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all public health bachelors's programs nationally

Duke UniversityOther public health programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Duke University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Duke University earns $46k — 94th percentile among public health bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in North Carolina

Public Health bachelors's programs at peer institutions in North Carolina (20 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Duke UniversityDurham$65,805$45,921—$12,5000.27
North Carolina A & T State UniversityGreensboro$6,748$58,660———
University of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro$7,593$42,239$40,000$25,5000.60
Elon UniversityElon$44,536$42,088$45,011$20,5000.49
North Carolina Central UniversityDurham$6,542$38,198—$31,0000.81
University of North Carolina WilmingtonWilmington$7,317$36,458$42,907$23,5000.64
National Median—$37,548—$26,0000.69

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with public health graduates

Physicists

Conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.

$166,290/yrJobs growth:Doctoral or professional degree

Medical and Health Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.

$117,960/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists

Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities.

$100,590/yrJobs growth:Doctoral or professional degree

Genetic Counselors

Assess individual or family risk for a variety of inherited conditions, such as genetic disorders and birth defects. Provide information to other healthcare providers or to individuals and families concerned with the risk of inherited conditions. Advise individuals and families to support informed decisionmaking and coping methods for those at risk. May help conduct research related to genetic conditions or genetic counseling.

$98,910/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Epidemiologists

Investigate and describe the determinants and distribution of disease, disability, or health outcomes. May develop the means for prevention and control.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.

$80,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Climate Change Policy Analysts

Research and analyze policy developments related to climate change. Make climate-related recommendations for actions such as legislation, awareness campaigns, or fundraising approaches.

$80,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Restoration Planners

Collaborate with field and biology staff to oversee the implementation of restoration projects and to develop new products. Process and synthesize complex scientific data into practical strategies for restoration, monitoring or management.

$80,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Ecologists

Apply principles and processes of natural ecosystems to develop models for efficient industrial systems. Use knowledge from the physical and social sciences to maximize effective use of natural resources in the production and use of goods and services. Examine societal issues and their relationship with both technical systems and the environment.

$80,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists

Review, evaluate, and analyze work environments and design programs and procedures to control, eliminate, and prevent disease or injury caused by chemical, physical, and biological agents or ergonomic factors. May conduct inspections and enforce adherence to laws and regulations governing the health and safety of individuals. May be employed in the public or private sector.

$78,900/yrJobs growth:
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Duke University, approximately 13% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 35 graduates with reported earnings and 26 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.