Public Health at Excelsior University

Excelsior's $31,129 median debt sits notably above both state and national benchmarks for public health bachelor's degrees, which typically run around $26,000. Combined with estimated first-year earnings of $39,164—derived from comparable New York programs—this creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79, meaning graduates carry debt equal to roughly 10 months of their first year's salary.

The debt figure here is concrete and concerning: it places this program in the 19th percentile nationally, meaning 81% of public health bachelor's programs saddle students with less debt. Meanwhile, the earnings estimate based on peer programs in New York suggests income roughly aligned with the state median, but well below what graduates from CUNY Hunter, Nazareth, or Cornell report earning. The gap matters because similar programs at these institutions are producing first-year earnings in the mid-$40,000s—$5,000 to $8,000 more annually while often carrying comparable or lower debt loads.

For an online institution like Excelsior, the value proposition hinges on convenience and completion for non-traditional students. But starting your public health career with above-average debt and below-benchmark earnings (based on similar programs) means a tighter financial squeeze in those critical early years. Compare specific debt figures and actual graduate outcomes at competing New York programs before committing—the $5,000 difference in debt and potential earnings compounds quickly.