Public Health at University of Houston-Downtown

Houston, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
44 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
45
Optimistic
44
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,119/yr (-10% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (179,000 openings/yr)
ROI 14.5x earnings multiple (6.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #123 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 $443K $446K $431K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.4x 14.5x 14.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.2x 6.3x 6.1x
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)
$30,832
Out-of-state: $71,152 (6.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$58,492
-90% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,950
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $35,119/yr, Public Health graduates from University of Houston-Downtown land near the $38,916 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 14.5x 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 3% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $18,950 debt-to-$35,119 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #123 out of 213 programs, University of Houston-Downtown's financial outcomes for Public Health trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About University of Houston-Downtown

With 91% of applicants admitted, University of Houston-Downtown prioritizes broad access, serving 12,812 students in Houston, TX. With 52% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Houston-Downtown →

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 Houston-Downtown

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 Houston-Downtown'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 →