Public Health at South University-West Palm Beach

The debt load here is the real problem. With $56,262 owed against first-year earnings of just under $35,000, graduates are carrying debt at a 1.62 ratio—nearly three times what other public health programs typically saddle students with. While the earnings themselves match Florida's median for this degree, the debt burden ranks among the worst 5% nationally. Even accounting for the 57% Pell grant population (students who often need more financial aid), this debt level stands out as excessive. Several Florida alternatives, including St. Petersburg College and Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale, produce significantly higher earnings with more manageable debt.

The earnings trajectory matters too. Starting at $35,000 in a field where national graduates average slightly higher, you're looking at years of aggressive loan payments eating into take-home pay. Public health bachelor's degrees generally don't command high starting salaries—it's often a stepping stone to graduate work or government positions with gradual advancement. That model becomes much harder when monthly loan payments consume such a large percentage of income.

For families considering this program, the math is straightforward: explore the higher-earning Florida programs first. If South University-West Palm Beach is the choice due to location or other factors, have a frank conversation about keeping borrowing well below the stated median—perhaps through community college credits, work-study, or limiting enrollment to what can be paid for incrementally. At full cost, this degree creates financial stress that will follow graduates for years.