Public Health at Henderson State University

Henderson State's public health bachelor's degree is difficult to evaluate precisely since both earnings and debt figures are drawn from national medians rather than actual graduate outcomes. That said, a $24,000 debt load paired with an estimated first-year salary of $37,548 produces a manageable 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio—well within the range where monthly loan payments shouldn't consume more than 10% of gross income.

What's more revealing is how this program might compare within Arkansas. The state's public health bachelor's programs typically produce lower earnings than the national median, with Arkansas graduates averaging around $34,000 rather than $37,500. If Henderson State's outcomes follow this state pattern, the financial picture becomes tighter but not necessarily problematic. The university serves a substantial population of Pell Grant recipients (48%), which often correlates with higher borrowing needs, though the estimated debt here sits slightly below the national median for these programs.

The challenge for parents is that without actual outcomes data, you're making an investment decision on incomplete information. Public health careers generally offer solid employment prospects and meaningful work, but if your child is borrowing significantly above that $24,000 estimate—which many students do—you'll want strong assurance they're committed to the field and understand the typical starting salaries. Consider reaching out to Henderson State's career services for placement data specific to their recent public health graduates.