Public Health at Wayne State University

Wayne State's Public Health bachelor's degree graduates earn $32,584 in their first year—about $3,600 below Michigan's median for this major and $5,000 below the national average. While Michigan sits in the middle of the pack nationally for public health earnings, Wayne State lags other state options. Oakland University graduates earn nearly double at $59,330, and even Eastern Michigan beats Wayne State by over $6,000. This places Wayne State in the 40th percentile among Michigan public health programs, meaning most in-state alternatives deliver stronger earnings outcomes.

The silver lining is manageable debt at $20,500, which is notably lower than both state and national medians. This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63, meaning graduates owe roughly seven months of their first-year salary. While the low starting earnings are concerning, the debt burden won't be crushing for most graduates.

For families considering Wayne State's public health program, understand you're accepting below-average starting earnings in exchange for lower debt exposure. If your child is committed to staying in Michigan and public health specifically, explore whether Oakland or Eastern Michigan might offer better value. Wayne State serves a high proportion of Pell grant recipients and provides accessible education, but the earnings gap compared to peer institutions is significant enough that cost-conscious families should weigh other Detroit-area options carefully.