Public Health at Sam Houston State University

Sam Houston State's Public Health program sits squarely in the middle of Texas options but trails the national benchmark by about $3,500 in first-year earnings. At $34,019, graduates earn slightly less than the state median ($35,119) and rank at the 40th percentile among Texas programs—meaning six out of ten similar programs in the state produce better outcomes. The debt load of $26,818 is reasonable and close to typical for this field, resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79.

The concerning element here is the gap between what you'll pay to attend and what top Texas programs deliver. While Sam Houston's outcomes aren't problematic on their face, nearby Texas A&M-College Station produces graduates earning $5,500 more annually, and several other state schools also outperform this program significantly. Given that public health bachelor's degrees don't typically command high starting salaries across the board, positioning at the 21st percentile nationally suggests this program isn't maximizing graduate competitiveness.

For parents, this means you're looking at a serviceable but not exceptional investment. Your child will graduate with manageable debt and enter a helping profession, but they'll likely start at the lower end of what's possible in Texas public health. If this aligns with other family priorities—location, campus fit, or financial aid—it's workable. But if maximizing earning potential matters, compare financial aid packages against higher-performing in-state alternatives before committing.