Public Health at Northwestern University

Northwestern's elite brand doesn't translate to elite outcomes for public health graduates, at least not in the first year. With starting earnings around $40,000, these graduates earn just $2,400 more than the national median—a modest premium for one of the country's most selective universities. More striking: Illinois State University's public health program produces graduates earning nearly 50% more, raising questions about whether Northwestern's 7% acceptance rate justifies the choice for this specific major.

The debt picture tells a different story. At under $15,000, Northwestern graduates carry roughly half the typical debt load for public health majors nationally and in Illinois—a significant advantage that likely reflects the university's strong financial aid. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 means graduates should be able to manage repayment reasonably, even with below-expected starting salaries.

However, the small sample size here (under 30 graduates) makes these figures unreliable for drawing firm conclusions. The program may be too new or too small to produce meaningful data. For parents considering Northwestern specifically for public health, the first-year numbers suggest other Illinois programs deliver stronger immediate returns. If you're already committed to Northwestern for other reasons—prestige, connections, overall university experience—the manageable debt softens the blow of modest starting salaries.