Public Health Degree in Rochester, NY — Salary & ROI 2026
Public Health degree analysis for Rochester, NY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$70K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$101K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.7 yrs
in Rochester
Cost of Living
140
index (100 = avg)
Public Health in Rochester, NY Overview
Rochester, New York (pop. 211,328) has 13 colleges offering Public Health programs. The local cost of living index of 140 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,592/month. Public Health has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Epidemiology and Biostatistics skills. The adjusted starting salary in Rochester is approximately $70,000.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$13,886/yr
Private Tuition
$56,653/yr
Room & Board
$21,356/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,325/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
46%
Public Health Salary in Rochester (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Rochester's cost of living index of 140 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Public Health salary: $50,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $92,000 senior level.Rochester adjustment factor: 1.40x based on the local cost of living index.
Public Health ROI Calculator for Rochester
Estimate your return on investment for a Public Health degree using local Rochester tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,886 | Private avg: $56,653
Rochester avg aid: $10,325/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$140,968
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,000
vs HS diploma in Rochester
ROI Payback Period
6.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Rochester
$447,032
Lifetime earnings premium ($588,000) minus total education cost ($140,968)
Student Loan Payoff for Public Health in Rochester
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Rochester for Public Health
University of Rochester
private
$60,550/yr
$242,200 total
Rochester Institute of Technology
private
$52,756/yr
$211,024 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Monroe Community College
$5,504/yr
Top Employers for Public Health in Rochester
Rochester offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Public Health graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Rochester Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Public Health Job Titles
Public Health in Nearby New York Cities
New York City, NY
$83K starting · COL 166
49 colleges
New York, NY
$94K starting · COL 187.2
279 colleges
Oyster Bay, NY
$73K starting · COL 145
11 colleges
Buffalo, NY
$61K starting · COL 122
10 colleges
North Hempstead, NY
$71K starting · COL 141.3
9 colleges
Babylon, NY
$76K starting · COL 152.3
8 colleges
Yonkers, NY
$73K starting · COL 145.3
8 colleges
Huntington, NY
$68K starting · COL 135.6
8 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Rochester
Pharmacy
$70K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$70K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$95K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$70K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$70K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$70K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$70K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$70K starting · 3 yr ROI
Public Health Degree in Rochester — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Public Health ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Rochester.