Public Health at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

At nearly $70,000 in first-year earnings, Michigan's public health post-bacc certificate delivers strong immediate returns—landing in the 75th percentile nationally among similar programs. The debt load of $21,431 translates to a manageable 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates can expect to repay what they borrowed in about four months of income. That's a favorable setup by any measure, especially given Michigan's prestige and selectivity.

The drawback worth understanding: earnings basically plateau after graduation. Four years out, median income barely budges to $70,041. In a field where many professionals earn advanced credentials to move up in their careers, this certificate appears to position graduates for solid mid-level public health roles rather than leadership tracks. Since Michigan is the only school in the state offering this specific credential, it's difficult to gauge whether this earnings pattern is program-specific or reflects broader realities of certificate-level positions in public health. The moderate sample size also means individual career paths may vary considerably from these medians.

For students who already hold a bachelor's degree and want to pivot into public health without committing to a full master's program, this certificate offers a relatively low-risk entry point with immediate financial viability. Just understand you're buying credentials and Michigan's network, not necessarily a steep upward trajectory.