Public Health at Portland State University

Portland State's Public Health program lands squarely in the middle of the pack nationally, but within Oregon it's actually performing better than that 60th percentile ranking might suggest. Graduates here earn $36,762 in their first year—essentially matching the state median—with manageable debt of $27,000. That 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can realistically handle repayment on entry-level public health salaries, which typically come from government agencies, nonprofits, and community health organizations.

The 24% earnings growth to $45,655 by year four is encouraging, though it's worth noting that Oregon State's graduates start about $4,000 higher. Still, PSU's program serves a notably different population—40% of students receive Pell grants—and delivers solid outcomes for students who might not otherwise access this field. The debt load is slightly above Oregon's median but well below the national average, particularly impressive given PSU's urban location and cost structure.

For families weighing this program, the fundamentals work: reasonable debt, steady earnings growth, and outcomes that beat most Oregon competitors. This won't catapult your student into high earnings, but public health rarely does at the bachelor's level. What matters is whether they can afford the debt while building meaningful careers in community health—and these numbers say yes.