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Public Health at New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Las Cruces, NM · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $27,729/yr (-29% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

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

ROI 15.7x earnings multiple (5.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #164 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	$513K	$512K	$478K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.8x	15.7x	14.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.1x	5.1x	4.7x
Probability of Field Employment	55%	52%	36%
DegreeOutlook Score	40	39	41

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$32,588

Out-of-state: $101,084 (5.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$26,988

17% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,500

10.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$46,471

68% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $27,729/yr fall 29% below the $38,916 national median for Public Health. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.7x 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 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $23,500 represents roughly 10 months of the $27,729 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #164 of 213 Public Health programs, New Mexico State University-Main Campus falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $46,471 show a 68% jump from the $27,729 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About New Mexico State University-Main Campus

New Mexico State University-Main Campus has a 76% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 11,561 in Las Cruces, NM. Pell Grant recipients make up 40% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at New Mexico State University-Main Campus →

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 New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Health at New Mexico State University-Main Campus?

A score of 39/100 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 $477,787 in decade earnings vs $513,350 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Public Health from New Mexico State University-Main Campus?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

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