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Public Health at University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, AL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $32,187/yr (-17% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (179,000 openings/yr)

ROI 14.7x earnings multiple (5.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #113 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	$519K	$518K	$482K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.7x	14.7x	13.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.9x	5.9x	5.5x
Probability of Field Employment	55%	52%	36%
DegreeOutlook Score	45	44	45

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$35,328

Out-of-state: $87,456 (5.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$70,908

-101% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,000

9.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$49,049

52% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $32,187 place University of Alabama at Birmingham below the $38,916 national median for Public Health — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 14.7x 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 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $25,000 debt-to-$32,187 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #113 out of 213 programs, University of Alabama at Birmingham's financial outcomes for Public Health trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $32,187 to $49,049 over five years (52% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Alabama at Birmingham

University of Alabama at Birmingham accepts 88% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 12,118 students in Birmingham, AL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Alabama at Birmingham →

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 University of Alabama at Birmingham

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 University of Alabama at Birmingham's Public Health program score?

This program scores 44/100 — 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.

Why are Public Health earnings lower at University of Alabama at Birmingham?

Lower starting pay at University of Alabama at Birmingham may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →