by our College Data Analytics Team
[Public Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 29 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public health students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public health, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in public health, no school beat South Suburban College this year. Located in the suburb of South Holland, South Suburban College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,093, with out-of-state students paying around $12,683. Students borrow a median of $7,904 to complete the public health program here. Early-career public health graduates make about $42,425. That is a strong return on a $7,904 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Chicago earned it the #2 place for public health. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Public Health graduates carry a median of $22,987 in student loans. Public Health graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $74,653 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Springfield came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value public health schools. Set in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,557, with out-of-state students paying around $20,139. Public Health graduates carry a median of $24,925 in student loans. Public Health graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of $54,701 early in their careers. Set against $24,925 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in public health will find it at Governors State University, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,004 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the public health program here. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Governors State University generally make around $36,537. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Governors State University admits about 48% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Northern Illinois University one of the best values for public health. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Public Health graduates carry a median of $25,209 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $52,308. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Northeastern Illinois University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value public health schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,383 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,726. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $17,600. Early-career public health graduates make about $49,254. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northeastern Illinois University admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value public health schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $20,678. Early-career public health graduates make about $48,900. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value public health schools. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,092. Public Health graduates carry a median of $29,223 in student loans. Early-career public health graduates make about $35,023. That is a strong return on a $29,223 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Illinois University placed #9 among the best values for public health. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. Students from in state pay about $13,377 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,859 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,293 to complete the public health program here. Early-career public health graduates make about $43,603. That is a strong return on a $24,293 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #10 among the best values for public health. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $23,730. Public Health graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $46,566 early in their careers. Set against $23,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Chicago earned the #11 position for value in public health this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $15,854. Early-career public health graduates make about $81,002. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Illinois State University came in at #12 for value in public health this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Public Health graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $59,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois Institute Of Technology placed #13 among the best values for public health. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,202. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $26,774. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,315. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Elmhurst College placed #14 among the best values for public health. Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elmhurst. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,955. Public Health graduates carry a median of $22,400 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Elmhurst College generally make around $51,232. Set against $22,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Elmhurst College admits about 74% of applicants.
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Benedictine University came in at #15 for value in public health this year. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $32,648. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $25,338. Early-career public health graduates make about $64,930. That is a strong return on a $25,338 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois landed the #16 spot for public health value this year. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois is a very large private for-profit school located in the suburb of Addison. In-state tuition and fees average $21,536. Students borrow a median of $39,146 to complete the public health program here. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois generally make around $68,487. Set against $39,146 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Northwestern University earned the #17 position for value in public health this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Public Health graduates carry a median of $14,684 in student loans. Early-career public health graduates make about $53,408. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Depaul University came in at #18 for value in public health this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $25,310. Early-career public health graduates make about $56,814. Set against $25,310 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Loyola University Chicago placed #19 among the best values for public health. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Public Health graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $66,981. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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The ranking above is published 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 · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.