Public Administration: is this graduate/professional certificate worth it?
National picture across 5 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$74,416 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.
$74,416Median year-4 earnings
$17,845Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$74,416Median reported earnings · year 4
$104,144Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
46thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
5Reporting programs
5With year-4 earnings
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$74,213National median$74,41675th percentile$81,812
5 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.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
5 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Indiana University-IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN · PublicYear-4 earnings$97,043Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$11,6682University at AlbanyAlbany, NY · PublicYear-4 earnings$81,812Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$17,1673Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, TX · PublicYear-4 earnings$74,416Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$21,3154Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$74,213Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$18,8095University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, MO · PublicYear-4 earnings$70,885Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$20,268
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Indiana University-Indianapolis$97,0432University at Albany$81,8123Texas A&M University-College Station$74,4164Johns Hopkins University$74,2135University of Missouri-Columbia$70,885Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Managers, All OtherSOC 11-9199 · 3 crosswalk linksTransportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersSOC 11-3071 · 2 crosswalk linksChief ExecutivesSOC 11-1011 · 1 crosswalk linksConstruction ManagersSOC 11-9021 · 1 crosswalk linksGeneral and Operations ManagersSOC 11-1021 · 1 crosswalk linksLegislatorsSOC 11-1031 · 1 crosswalk linksPostmasters and Mail SuperintendentsSOC 11-9131 · 1 crosswalk linksSocial and Community Service ManagersSOC 11-9151 · 1 crosswalk linksTraffic TechniciansSOC 53-6041 · 1 crosswalk linksUrban and Regional PlannersSOC 19-3051 · 1 crosswalk links
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 | Indiana University-IndianapolisGraduate/Professional Certificate | Indianapolis, IN | $97,043 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,668 |
| 2 | University at AlbanyGraduate/Professional Certificate | Albany, NY | $81,812 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,167 |
| 3 | Texas A&M University-College StationGraduate/Professional Certificate | College Station, TX | $74,416 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,315 |
| 4 | Johns Hopkins UniversityGraduate/Professional Certificate | Baltimore, MD | $74,213 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,809 |
| 5 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaGraduate/Professional Certificate | Columbia, MO | $70,885 | Not available | Baseline needed | $20,268 |
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.