Public Health at Miami University-Oxford

Miami University-Oxford's public health graduates start at $37,533—essentially matching the national median but trailing the Ohio state median by about $350. More concerning, this places the program in just the 40th percentile among Ohio's 27 public health programs, meaning six in ten competing programs in-state produce better early earnings. When schools like Bowling Green State produce graduates earning $47,000—25% more—from the same state, this program's value becomes harder to justify at full price.

The $24,000 debt load provides some cushion, coming in below both state and national medians. That 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable for public health work, which often involves nonprofit or government positions with modest starting salaries. For context, Miami attracts solid students (1313 SAT average) but only 11% receive Pell grants, suggesting most families are paying substantial tuition for a degree that delivers middle-of-the-pack outcomes.

The fundamental question is whether Miami's brand and campus experience justify paying more for below-average Ohio results in this field. If your child can attend at in-state rates with minimal borrowing, the reasonable debt load makes this workable. But families considering out-of-state tuition or substantial loans should look hard at why programs like Bowling Green or Kent State deliver significantly stronger earnings for Ohio public health graduates. This isn't a red flag program, but it's not demonstrating clear value leadership in its own state market.