2026 Best Value Public Health Associate’s Degree Schools
[Public Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 894 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public health students.
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2026 Best Value Public Health Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public health degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Health Schools
Leading the list is Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College, our #1 best value for public health in the United States. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,170, compared with $8,050 for out-of-state students. Public Health graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Public Health graduates of Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earn a median of $30,111 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Laguardia Community College earned it the #2 place for public health. Set in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,218, with out-of-state students paying around $8,098. Students borrow a median of $8,858 to complete the public health program here. Early-career public health graduates make about $31,437. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Cuny Bronx Community College one of the best values for public health. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,206, with out-of-state students paying around $8,086. Students borrow a median of $8,224 to complete the public health program here. Early-career public health graduates make about $35,768. That is a strong return on a $8,224 median debt.
Middlesex County College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value public health schools. Middlesex County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Edison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,764, compared with $7,356 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $9,514. Early-career public health graduates make about $37,975. Set against $9,514 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in public health will find it at University Of Alaska Southeast, which ranked #5. Set in the rural area of Juneau, University Of Alaska Southeast is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,936, with out-of-state students paying around $24,840. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $20,458. Early-career public health graduates make about $63,014. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Roane State Community College came in at #6 for value in public health this year. Roane State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Harriman. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,998, compared with $18,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,408 to complete the public health program here. Public Health graduates of Roane State Community College earn a median of $36,933 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,408 median debt.
American Public University System ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value public health schools. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,163 to complete the public health program here. Early-career public health graduates make about $36,794. Set against $25,163 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Prince Georges Community College placed #8 among the best values for public health. Prince Georges Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Largo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,034, with out-of-state students paying around $8,762. Students borrow a median of $13,949 to complete the public health program here. Early-career public health graduates make about $56,960. That is a strong return on a $13,949 median debt.
Montgomery County Community College earned the #9 position for value in public health this year. Montgomery County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blue Bell. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,690, while out-of-state students pay about $17,250. Public Health graduates carry a median of $15,219 in student loans. Public Health graduates of Montgomery County Community College earn a median of $39,025 early in their careers. Set against $15,219 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Utah Valley University earned the #10 position for value in public health this year. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,507 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $14,541. Public Health graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $38,102 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,541 median debt.
Ozarks Technical Community College placed #11 among the best values for public health. Located in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,256, with out-of-state students paying around $7,040. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $15,866. Public Health graduates of Ozarks Technical Community College earn a median of $36,644 early in their careers. Set against $15,866 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Howard Community College placed #12 among the best values for public health. Set in the city of Columbia, Howard Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,599 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,836. Students borrow a median of $18,115 to complete the public health program here. Early-career public health graduates make about $56,172. That is a strong return on a $18,115 median debt.
Northampton County Area Community College earned the #13 position for value in public health this year. Northampton County Area Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Bethlehem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,550, while out-of-state students pay about $15,270. Public Health graduates carry a median of $18,900 in student loans. Public Health graduates of Northampton County Area Community College earn a median of $35,960 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,900 median debt.
Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff placed #14 among the best values for public health. Located in the town of Poplar Bluff, Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,830 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,060. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $11,350. Public Health graduates of Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff earn a median of $37,259 early in their careers. Set against $11,350 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg earned the #15 position for value in public health this year. Set in the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,975, while out-of-state students pay about $12,472. Students borrow a median of $23,578 to complete the public health program here. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg generally make around $41,382. That is a strong return on a $23,578 median debt.
Dine College came in at #16 for value in public health this year. Dine College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Tsaile. Students from in state pay about $1,410 in tuition and fees. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Dine College generally make around $20,227.
Bryant And Stratton College Online landed the #17 spot for public health value this year. Located in the suburb of Orchard Park, Bryant And Stratton College Online is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,274. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $30,312. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Bryant And Stratton College Online generally make around $33,828. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida National University Main Campus ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value public health schools. Set in the suburb of Hialeah, Florida National University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,368. Public Health graduates carry a median of $26,585 in student loans. Early-career public health graduates make about $37,183. That is a strong return on a $26,585 median debt.
Community Care College earned the #19 position for value in public health this year. Set in the city of Tulsa, Community Care College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $16,508. Public Health graduates of Community Care College earn a median of $25,994 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,508 median debt.
Florida Vocational Institute placed #20 among the best values for public health. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida Vocational Institute is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $8,468. Early-career public health graduates make about $23,351. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value public health schools. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. In-state tuition and fees average $25,056. Public Health graduates carry a median of $31,866 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Keiser University Ft Lauderdale generally make around $36,992. That is a strong return on a $31,866 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Other Public Health Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Public Health rankings across degree levels:
View All Public Health Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 894 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
