Public Health at South University-Tampa

South University-Tampa's Public Health program leaves graduates with a challenging debt burden that overshadows an otherwise typical outcome for Florida. Students exit with $56,262 in debt—more than double the national median for this field and dramatically above the $27,188 state median. That creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.62, meaning graduates owe roughly 19 months of their entire first-year salary. This ranks in the 5th percentile nationally for debt levels, indicating it's among the most expensive public health programs in the country.

The earnings picture tells a more nuanced story. At $34,789, graduates match the Florida median exactly and rank at the 60th percentile among state programs—solidly middle-of-the-pack for the state. However, they fall in the 25th percentile nationally, and trail schools like St. Petersburg College (where graduates earn $51,565) by nearly $17,000 annually. With 48% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are already financially stretched.

The math is unforgiving: even if a graduate dedicates 10% of their pre-tax income to debt repayment, they're looking at many years of financial strain. For a family considering this program, the question isn't whether their child can succeed in public health—it's whether accumulating $56,000 in debt for a $35,000 starting salary makes sense when comparable Florida programs cost half as much.