Public Health at University of Minnesota-Duluth

At roughly $36,500 first-year earnings, UMN-Duluth's public health degree falls nearly $2,000 below Minnesota's median for the program and trails the state's top performers by $10,000 or more. Graduates here earn less than peers at Winona State, Walden, and St. Catherine—a meaningful gap when you're trying to pay down debt on an entry-level salary. The program sits at the 40th percentile statewide, meaning six out of ten Minnesota public health programs deliver better financial outcomes.

The $26,000 debt load matches both state and national medians, which sounds reasonable until you consider it represents 71% of first-year earnings. That's a tight budget for a recent graduate, particularly in a field where many positions require master's degrees for advancement. Public health careers often start modestly and grow over time, but beginning $10,000 behind Winona State graduates means playing catch-up from day one.

For Minnesota families, this program represents middle-of-the-road value at best. If your child is committed to public health and strongly prefers Duluth's location or campus culture, the debt level won't sink them—but they should know they're accepting below-average state outcomes. If finances are a primary concern, the higher-performing programs in the Twin Cities area deserve serious consideration.