Public Health at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Neighboring Winona State graduates in public health earn $46,250 their first year—nearly $8,000 more than the state median of $38,475 that drives these estimates. That gap matters when you're carrying $27,000 in debt, which would take roughly nine months of gross income to repay at the estimated earnings level. Saint Mary's doesn't report actual outcomes for this program (likely because too few graduates to meet federal privacy thresholds), so these figures reflect what comparable bachelor's programs in Minnesota typically produce.

The debt load sits right at state and national norms for public health degrees, suggesting standard borrowing patterns. But public health bachelor's programs show considerable variation in Minnesota—from $36,520 at UMN-Duluth to over $46,000 at Winona State. Given that Saint Mary's accepts 89% of applicants while programs with stronger reported outcomes exist nearby, the competitive positioning becomes important. Public health careers often require additional credentials for advancement, which means this bachelor's degree may be a stepping stone rather than a terminal credential.

Before committing, ask Saint Mary's directly about recent graduate outcomes and career placement in public health roles. The school may have internal data showing their graduates outperform the state median, or they may frankly acknowledge that most students pursue graduate education. Without that program-specific information, you're betting on median Minnesota performance while paying private university costs.