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Public Health at George Mason University

Fairfax, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $37,025/yr (-5% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

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

ROI 11.4x earnings multiple (4.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #60 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	$638K	$631K	$561K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.5x	11.4x	10.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.0x	4.0x	3.6x
Probability of Field Employment	55%	52%	36%
DegreeOutlook Score	53	53	52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$55,260

Out-of-state: $157,588 (4.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$73,148

-32% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,500

6.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$65,152

76% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $37,025/yr, roughly in line with the $38,916 national median for Public Health. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Public Health programs nationally.

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 $20,500 represents roughly 7 months of the $37,025 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #60 of 213 Public Health programs, George Mason University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $65,152 show a 76% jump from the $37,025 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About George Mason University

George Mason University accepts 89% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with 27,083 students enrolled in Fairfax, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at George Mason 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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Health at George Mason University?

A score of 53/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Public Health field.

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 $560,510 in decade earnings vs $637,772 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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