Public Administration: is this first professional degree worth it?
National picture across 1 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$78,355 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$78,355Median year-4 earnings
$30,434Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$78,355Median reported earnings · year 4
$82,619Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
38thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
1With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 0 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $67,522
- Federal debt
- $20,125
- Reporting programs
- 3
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $64,953
- Federal debt
- $23,626
- Reporting programs
- 52
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $76,815
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $77,329
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 244
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $100,861
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $78,355
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $74,416
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 5
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$78,355National median$78,35575th percentile$78,355
1 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
1 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus$78,355Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Managers, All Other$141,900 median wage622,190 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9199+4.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 100.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$74,300–$238,270 10th–90th percentileTransportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$107,230 median wage221,180 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-3071+6.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 18.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$65,120–$194,900 10th–90th percentileChief Executives$213,990 median wage204,350 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-1011+3.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 19.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$75,700–$507,730 10th–90th percentileConstruction Managers$114,990 median wage380,360 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9021+9.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 49.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$69,690–$189,440 10th–90th percentileGeneral and Operations Managers$105,770 median wage3,503,020 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-1021+5.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 285k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$50,090–$253,390 10th–90th percentilePostmasters and Mail Superintendents$96,660 median wage13,810 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9131-0.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$85,090–$111,740 10th–90th percentileUrban and Regional Planners$89,320 median wage44,230 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-3051+3.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$60,010–$134,490 10th–90th percentileSocial and Community Service Managers$80,390 median wage209,330 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9151+7.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 18.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$53,150–$132,260 10th–90th percentileTraffic Technicians$59,090 median wage7,860 U.S. jobs · SOC 53-6041+4.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$39,090–$85,130 10th–90th percentileLegislatorsUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 11-1031
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusFirst Professional Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $78,355 | Not available | Baseline needed | $30,434 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.