Public Health at Gannon University

The estimated $27,000 debt burden here aligns closely with what other Pennsylvania public health programs report, while projected first-year earnings of roughly $39,000 match the state median—placing this squarely in the middle of the pack. That 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment, though it's worth noting that top programs in Pennsylvania like Franklin and Marshall and Temple report graduates earning around $43,000, creating a meaningful earnings gap that compounds over time.

Public health bachelor's degrees nationally produce modest starting salaries, with half of programs yielding first-year earnings below $37,500. The field often requires additional credentials or experience before reaching stronger compensation levels. Based on comparable Pennsylvania programs, your child would likely face a monthly loan payment around $280 on a standard 10-year plan—feasible on the projected salary but leaving little cushion for the typical financial pressures of early career life.

The challenge is that Gannon's estimates derive from peer programs statewide, not its own graduate outcomes, so there's genuine uncertainty about whether this specific program performs above or below that $39,000 benchmark. If Gannon's outcomes fall closer to the lower end of the state range, the debt becomes harder to justify; if they match the stronger programs, it's a reasonable investment for someone committed to public health work.