Public Health at Texas State University

San Marcos, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
48 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
48
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,564/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (179,000 openings/yr)
ROI 12.0x earnings multiple (5.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #90 of 213 Public Health programs Top 50%

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 $552K $549K $503K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.0x 12.0x 11.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.9x 5.9x 5.4x
Probability of Field Employment 55% 52% 36%
DegreeOutlook Score 48 48 48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$45,800
Out-of-state: $92,840 (5.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$65,752
-44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,375
7.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,371
53% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $35,564/yr, roughly in line with the $38,916 national median for Public Health. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 12.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 48% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,375 debt-to-$35,564 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #90 out of 213 programs, Texas State University's Public Health offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $35,564 to $54,371 over five years (53% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Texas State University

Texas State University accepts 89% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 34,547 students in San Marcos, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at Texas State 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

Public Health at Other Schools

Other Majors at Texas State University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Texas State University's Public Health program score?
This program scores 48/100 — on the lower end for Public Health. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Public Health to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Public Health careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 48% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →