Public Health at Franklin College

Similar public health bachelor's programs in Indiana suggest first-year earnings around $43,000—a figure that would place Franklin College's graduates near the middle of the pack, slightly above the national median for this field. With an estimated $27,000 in debt, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63 sits in reasonable territory, though Indiana's state median debt for public health programs runs a bit lower at $24,000.

The challenge here is that public health bachelor's degrees often serve as stepping stones to graduate programs or certifications in specialized health fields, where the real earning potential emerges. If your child plans to work immediately after graduation, $43,000 puts them in a livable but modest starting position. The estimated debt load is manageable on that salary—roughly equivalent to half a year's gross pay—but not trivial for someone entering a helping profession where salary growth can be gradual.

What matters most is whether this specific program connects students to Indiana's health networks and employers effectively. Franklin's small size (reflected in the suppressed data) could mean personalized mentoring and internship placement, or it could mean fewer established industry pipelines than you'd find at Purdue or IU campuses where outcomes are actually reported. The estimates suggest acceptable value, but you'll want concrete answers about job placement rates and where recent graduates actually landed before committing.