Public Health at Rasmussen University-Minnesota

Rasmussen's public health program sits firmly in the bottom half of Minnesota options, with first-year earnings of $35,433—about $3,000 below the state median and roughly $11,000 less than top performers like Winona State. More concerning is the debt burden: at $40,809, graduates carry $14,000 more debt than the state median, placing this program in the 5th percentile nationally for debt levels. The combination creates a starting debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.15, while Minnesota's public health students at other schools typically carry closer to 70 cents of debt per dollar of earnings.

For families focused on value, this is a tough trade-off. With half of students receiving Pell grants, many here depend on manageable debt loads, yet graduates face substantially higher loan balances than peers across Minnesota. Earning 40th percentile in the state isn't disastrous, but paying significantly more for below-average outcomes makes recovery slower. Other Minnesota programs routinely deliver both higher earnings and lower debt—a combination worth serious consideration for families evaluating options.

Unless there are compelling reasons specific to Rasmussen's format or accessibility, families should compare this program carefully against alternatives. The gap in both earnings and debt is substantial enough that starting at a different institution could mean thousands less in student loan payments with better career positioning from day one.