Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $30,412/yr fall 22% below the $38,916 national median for Public Health. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
The financial case is thin at 2.9x — 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 12% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $25,250 represents roughly 10 months of the $30,412 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #208 of 213 Public Health programs, Pacific University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $62,105 show a 104% jump from the $30,412 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.