Public Health at University of California-San Diego

UC San Diego's public health program shows an unusual pattern that separates it from typical California offerings: initial earnings start modestly at $39,144, but then jump 35% to $53,015 by year four. That four-year mark puts graduates well ahead of the state median and approaches the earnings of schools like UC Berkeley. The program ranks in the 60th percentile statewide initially, but that growth trajectory suggests graduates are moving into higher-paying public health roles—likely in research, program management, or healthcare administration—faster than peers at other institutions.

The debt picture is remarkably clean. At $15,280, graduates carry roughly half the national average and rank in the 95th percentile for low debt. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39, most graduates could reasonably pay this off within a year or two of graduating even before that earnings bump kicks in. For a UC school with a 25% admission rate, this is the kind of accessible program that delivers on the promise of public university education.

The key consideration: that first year salary requires some patience. If your student needs to earn quickly out of college, programs like National University show higher starting figures. But for families who can weather a modest start, the combination of minimal debt and strong growth makes this a solid investment—especially given UCSD's research reputation likely opening doors to those better-paying positions down the line.