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Public Health at Duke University

Durham, NC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
44 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
45
Optimistic
44
Base Case
40
Pessimistic
Earnings $45,921/yr (18% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (179,000 openings/yr)
ROI 1.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #122 of 213 Public Health programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Public Health graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $511K $510K $476K
Earnings Multiple 1.9x 1.9x 1.8x
Probability of Field Employment 55% 52% 36%
DegreeOutlook Score 45 44 40

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$263,220
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$137,816
48% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,500
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $45,921/yr, edging above the $38,916 national average for Public Health — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The financial case is thin at 1.9x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

Some AI exposure exists in Public Health's typical career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.

At $12,500 in median debt against $45,921 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #122 of 213 Public Health programs, Duke University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Duke University

Duke University admits 7% of applicants — among the most selective institutions in the country, with a mid-sized student body of 6,417 in Durham, NC. After financial aid, the average student pays $137,816 over four years — 48% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Duke University →

Top Career Paths

Physicists $166,290/yr
Medical and health services managers $117,960/yr
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr
View all 13 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 213 schools offering Public Health →

Public Health at Other Schools

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center ($99,671) Utah State University ($76,451) Brown University ($75,909) Montana Technological University ($74,771) Oakland University ($59,330) Illinois State University ($59,207) North Carolina A & T State University ($58,660) Tufts University ($53,372)

Other Majors at Duke University

Computer Science ($133,356) Mathematics ($121,088) Computer Engineering ($111,145) Economics ($98,649) Statistics ($97,197) Mechanical Engineering ($89,938) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($77,288) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($69,873)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Public Health trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Health at Duke University?
A score of 44/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Public Health. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Public Health careers?
With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $476,321 in decade earnings vs $511,146 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →