Public Health at Santa Clara University

Santa Clara's Public Health program delivers impressive national results—landing in the 95th percentile for graduate earnings—but the picture shifts when you zoom into California's competitive landscape. At $47,274 starting out and growing to $62,238 by year four, graduates earn well above the national median of $37,548. Yet within California, this sits in the middle of the pack at the 60th percentile, trailing schools like UC Berkeley and several CSU campuses that offer similar outcomes at lower cost.

The $24,500 debt load is reasonable for a private university and translates to a manageable 0.52 debt-to-earnings ratio. However, California public health graduates typically carry just $15,265 in debt—less than two-thirds of what Santa Clara students take on. Given that several public universities in the state deliver comparable or better earnings, families should carefully weigh whether Santa Clara's private school experience justifies the premium. The 32% earnings growth over four years is encouraging, but that trajectory doesn't fundamentally change the value equation.

One important caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary significantly. If your child is set on Santa Clara for campus culture or other programs, this major won't derail their finances. But if you're choosing primarily for public health career preparation, California's public universities offer a stronger return on investment.