Public Health at Nazareth University

Nazareth's public health graduates earn $46,442 their first year out—landing them in the 95th percentile nationally, which sounds impressive until you look closer at New York's competitive landscape. In a state where the median public health grad earns $39,164, Nazareth performs solidly (60th percentile), roughly matching earnings at CUNY Hunter College and outpacing Cornell's public health program. That's notable positioning for a school with an 80% admission rate.

The $26,000 median debt aligns exactly with both national and state benchmarks, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56—manageable by most standards. Graduates would dedicate about 56% of their first year's salary to debt repayment, leaving reasonable breathing room compared to programs where ratios creep above 0.75 or 1.0. The combination of above-average earnings and average debt suggests students are getting solid preparation without excessive financial burden.

The significant caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates means one or two high earners or career switchers could skew the entire picture. Before banking on that 95th percentile number, visit campus and ask specifically about career support, internship placements with Rochester-area health systems, and whether recent graduates are actually working in public health roles. If those check out, this looks like a reasonable in-state option, but the small cohort means you're buying into a less proven track record than larger programs can demonstrate.