Public Health at University of Alabama at Birmingham

UAB's Public Health program starts graduates at a challenging $32,187—well below both the national median ($37,548) and the state median ($34,789). That ranks this program in just the 13th percentile nationally, meaning nearly 90% of comparable programs launch graduates into better-paying positions. Even within Alabama's limited pool of four public health programs, this sits at the 40th percentile, trailing both University of Alabama and South University-Montgomery.

The program's saving grace is strong earnings growth: graduates see a 28% jump to $41,267 by year four, pulling slightly ahead of national benchmarks. The $25,000 debt load is reasonable, matching the state median and creating a manageable 0.78 debt-to-earnings ratio. This isn't a debt trap, but that first year will be financially tight.

For families, this comes down to whether your student can weather that difficult first year—living at home or with roommates, budgeting carefully—while building toward more sustainable mid-career earnings. If your child has other public health options with stronger starting salaries, those deserve serious consideration. But if UAB is the accessible choice and your student is committed to the field, the trajectory suggests it gets better, just not immediately.