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Public Health at West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $37,256/yr (-4% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

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

ROI 11.9x earnings multiple (4.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #126 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	$457K	$458K	$440K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.8x	11.9x	11.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.2x	4.2x	4.0x
Probability of Field Employment	55%	52%	36%
DegreeOutlook Score	45	44	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)

$38,592

Out-of-state: $109,440 (4.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$51,988

-35% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,045

7.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $37,256 track close to the $38,916 national median for Public Health programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 11.9x 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 4% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $22,045 debt-to-$37,256 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #126 out of 213 programs, West Virginia University's financial outcomes for Public Health trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About West Virginia University

West Virginia University has a 86% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 17,705 students in Morgantown, WV.

See all programs and financial aid at West Virginia 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

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does West Virginia University'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.

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