Public Health: American Public University System vs University of Central Oklahoma

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
In-State
17.5x
$33,600 tuition
18.1x
$34,088 tuition
Out-of-State
17.5x
$33,600 tuition
8.0x
$77,636 tuition
$587,576 10-yr earnings · Private for-profit
$618,036 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

American Public University System University of Central Oklahoma
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.5x 18.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 17.5x 8.0x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $33,600 $34,088
Year 1 Earnings $47,100 $49,560
10-Year Earnings $588K $618K
Median Debt $30,640 $18,000
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 7.8 months 4.4 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 65/100 66/100

Both programs have high AI automation risk (48% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Public Health graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Public Health graduates.

American Public University System University of Central Oklahoma
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $33,600 $34,088
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $33,600 $77,636
10-Year Projected Earnings $588K $618K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.5x 18.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 17.5x 8.0x
5-Year Salary Growth +35% +38%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Public Health (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

American Public University System University of Central Oklahoma
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $592K $588K $530K $624K $618K $551K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 17.6x 17.5x 15.8x 18.3x 18.1x 16.2x
DegreeWorth Score 65 65 59 67 66 60

For the full AI analysis of Public Health career paths, see the American Public University System or University of Central Oklahoma program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Public Health graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$488
American Public University System saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$2,460/yr
University of Central Oklahoma grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
17.5x / 18.1x
Out-of-state: 17.5x / 8.0x

Career Paths

Public Health graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Physicists $166,290 1,700 +4.0% 75%
Medical and health services managers $117,960 62,100 +23.2% 43%
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620 27,400 +17.3% 48%
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists $100,590 9,600 +8.7% 52%
Genetic counselors $98,910 300 +9.3% 50%
Physics teachers, postsecondary $97,360 1,300 +2.5% 42%
Epidemiologists $83,980 800 +16.2% 44%
Occupational health and safety specialists $83,910 14,900 +12.5% 33%
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Public Health: American Public University System or University of Central Oklahoma?
American Public University System scores 65/100 while University of Central Oklahoma scores 66/100. American Public University System has significantly lower tuition, which drives its competitive ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Public Health?
American Public University System has an in-state earnings multiple of 17.5x vs University of Central Oklahoma's 18.1x. That means University of Central Oklahoma grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do American Public University System and University of Central Oklahoma compare on Public Health earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $47,100 at American Public University System vs $49,560 at University of Central Oklahoma. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $587,576 vs $618,036 — a difference of $30,460.
How much does Public Health cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $33,600 at American Public University System and $34,088 at University of Central Oklahoma. Median debt at graduation is $30,640 vs $18,000. Both programs lead to the same Public Health career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.