Public Health at University of Illinois Chicago

Chicago, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
47 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
47
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings $41,585/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (179,000 openings/yr)
ROI 8.4x earnings multiple (4.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #96 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 $484K $484K $458K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.4x 8.4x 8.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.1x 4.1x 3.9x
Probability of Field Employment 55% 52% 36%
DegreeOutlook Score 48 47 44

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$57,352
Out-of-state: $117,440 (4.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$49,252
14% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
5.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$46,816
13% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Illinois Chicago's Public Health graduates start at $41,585/yr — above the $38,916 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.4x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $20,500 in median debt clears quickly against $41,585 in annual earnings.

At #96 of 213 Public Health programs, University of Illinois Chicago scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About University of Illinois Chicago

A 78% acceptance rate means University of Illinois Chicago is accessible to most applicants, with 21,814 students enrolled in Chicago, IL. With 50% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Illinois Chicago →

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

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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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Health at University of Illinois Chicago?
A score of 47/100 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 $458,266 in decade earnings vs $483,990 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →