Public Health at Marymount University

Virginia's public health bachelor's programs cluster tightly in the mid-$30,000s, and based on comparable programs across the state, Marymount's outcomes likely fall right in line with this pattern. With estimated first-year earnings around $36,641 and debt near $27,000, the 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio sits just below the one-year-salary threshold that typically signals manageable repayment. The four-year earnings figure of $42,570 suggests meaningful income growth early in graduates' careers, which matters when your child will be making loan payments for a decade.

The challenge here is that public health salaries start modest regardless of where you study it—even top programs in Virginia produce nearly identical outcomes, with just a few thousand dollars separating most schools. This narrow range means Marymount isn't disadvantaging graduates compared to larger state universities, but it also means your child won't out-earn the field simply by choosing differently within Virginia. The 22% Pell grant rate suggests the university serves fewer low-income students than many public institutions, which could affect campus culture and networking opportunities.

For families comfortable with $27,000 in debt, this represents a reasonable investment if your child is committed to public health work and understands the salary realities. The estimated figures align closely with what peer programs actually report, reducing some uncertainty about outcomes.