Public Health at Hiram College

A debt load of $27,000 for estimated first-year earnings around $38,000 creates a manageable but unremarkable financial picture for this public health degree. These figures, drawn from peer programs across Ohio and the nation, suggest a debt-to-earnings ratio that hovers right at the threshold where college financing experts consider borrowing sustainable—but there's little margin for error or surprise expenses.

The challenge with Hiram's program is that comparable Ohio schools report a wide earnings range, from under $38,000 to over $47,000 at Bowling Green State. Without program-specific outcomes data, it's impossible to know where Hiram graduates actually land within that spectrum. Public health roles vary dramatically—from community health workers to data analysts—and program focus matters considerably for starting salaries. The 93% admission rate suggests Hiram is accessible, but selectivity doesn't always correlate with post-graduation outcomes in applied health fields.

For families financing this degree, the estimated numbers suggest neither a windfall nor a disaster. Monthly loan payments would consume roughly 10-11% of gross income based on typical repayment plans—manageable but meaningful. Before committing, press the school for actual graduate outcomes: where do their public health majors work, what roles do they secure, and how quickly? The difference between typical Ohio outcomes and what Hiram specifically delivers could shift this from a reasonable investment to one requiring careful reconsideration.