Public Health at South University-Montgomery

South University-Montgomery's Public Health program carries exceptionally high debt—$56,262 compared to the $26,000 national median and $25,000 state median for this degree. That's more than double what students typically borrow for a public health bachelor's, placing this program in the 5th percentile nationally for debt burden. With first-year earnings of $34,789, graduates face a 1.62 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning they owe 19 months of their gross salary. While the program performs at the 60th percentile among Alabama's four public health programs, that's a modest distinction when the earnings are already below the national median.

The financial math is straightforward: borrowing $56,000 to earn $35,000 creates years of repayment pressure that could delay other life goals. With 70% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on this degree to provide economic mobility, but the debt load undermines that goal. The University of Alabama offers comparable earnings ($35,698) likely at a much lower cost for in-state students.

Unless your family can significantly reduce this debt through scholarships or has the resources to help with loan payments, the burden here outweighs the credential's earning power. Public health graduates typically need to be strategic about career advancement, and starting with this much debt makes that climb considerably steeper.