Public Health at Temple University

Temple University's public health bachelor's delivers something relatively rare: solid initial earnings that actually improve over time. At $43,093 in the first year, graduates earn about $4,000 more than Pennsylvania's state median and nearly $6,000 above the national average. By year four, that gap widens as earnings climb to $47,319—meaningful growth in a field where many programs show flat or declining trajectories. Among Pennsylvania's 28 public health programs, Temple lands squarely in the middle of the pack (60th percentile), trailing only a handful of schools like Franklin and Marshall and Slippery Rock.

The debt picture is equally straightforward: $27,000 matches both state and national medians, which is reasonable rather than remarkable. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63, graduates owe less than eight months of first-year salary—manageable by most standards. The program serves a substantial population of Pell Grant students (30%) without saddling them with above-average debt, which matters for families watching every dollar.

For parents evaluating Temple's public health program, the math works. You're getting better-than-average earnings from day one, steady income growth through year four, and debt that won't dominate your child's early career. It's not the premium option in Pennsylvania, but it's a practical choice that delivers tangible value without financial risk.