Public Health at South University-Savannah Online

South University-Savannah Online's public health program carries debt levels that should worry any parent. At $56,262, graduates owe more than double what's typical both nationally and within Georgia—placing this program in the 95th percentile for debt burden. That's a red flag when paired with first-year earnings of just $34,789, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.62 that will make loan repayment genuinely difficult.

The earnings picture adds another layer of concern. While graduates earn near the Georgia median for public health programs (60th percentile in-state), they're significantly behind the national average and trail stronger options like Kennesaw State ($42,175) and UGA ($39,534) by $4,000-$7,000 annually. Given that 76% of students receive Pell grants, most families here are counting on this degree to provide economic mobility, but the extreme debt load undermines that goal.

For an online program serving predominantly lower-income students, these debt levels are particularly troubling. If your child can access a public university's public health program in Georgia—where debt typically runs around $27,000—they'd graduate with half the financial burden and potentially better earning prospects. Unless there are compelling personal reasons for choosing this specific online format, the math here doesn't favor families who need their degree investment to pay off quickly.