Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 11 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$26,514 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
11.2 yrsModeled economic break-even
−11%Modeled 10-year ROI
$67,099Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$67,099Median reported earnings · year 4
$64,664Average reported earnings · year 5
$27,000Median federal debt
57thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
11Reporting programs
10With 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
- $51,236
- Federal debt
- $14,119
- Reporting programs
- 2
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $48,958
- Federal debt
- $6,333
- Reporting programs
- 2
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $67,099
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 11
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $74,406
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 8
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$57,191National median$67,09975th percentile$68,928
10 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.
11 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, VA · PublicYear-4 earnings$109,851Federal debt$20,362Annual net price$21,5652Empire State UniversitySaratoga Springs, NY · PublicYear-4 earnings$72,188Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$11,6763University of California, DavisDavis, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$69,702Federal debt$14,171Annual net price$14,7414University at AlbanyAlbany, NY · PublicYear-4 earnings$68,928Federal debt$23,225Annual net price$17,1675Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ · PublicYear-4 earnings$67,099Federal debt$27,000Annual net price$24,4066Rutgers University-NewarkNewark, NJ · PublicYear-4 earnings$67,099Federal debt$27,000Annual net price$19,7037Park UniversityParkville, MO · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$60,550Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$21,0328Jacksonville State UniversityJacksonville, AL · PublicYear-4 earnings$57,191Federal debt$31,000Annual net price$14,2799National Louis UniversityChicago, IL · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$52,649Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$12,64110Troy UniversityTroy, AL · PublicYear-4 earnings$41,240Federal debt$28,968Annual net price$16,52711University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusDenver, CO · PublicYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$33,510Annual net price$11,900
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Virginia-Main Campus$109,8512Empire State University$72,1883University of California, Davis$69,7024University at Albany$68,9285Rutgers University-New Brunswick$67,0996Rutgers University-Newark$67,0997Park University$60,5508Jacksonville State University$57,1919National Louis University$52,64910Troy University$41,240Observed 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.
NO MATCHSOC 99-9999 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Virginia-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Charlottesville, VA | $109,851 | $20,362 | +144% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Empire State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saratoga Springs, NY | $72,188 | Not available | +20% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $69,702 | $14,171 | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | University at AlbanyBachelor's Degree | Albany, NY | $68,928 | $23,225 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $67,099 | $27,000 | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Rutgers University-NewarkBachelor's Degree | Newark, NJ | $67,099 | $27,000 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Park UniversityBachelor's Degree | Parkville, MO | $60,550 | Not available | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Jacksonville State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Jacksonville, AL | $57,191 | $31,000 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | National Louis UniversityBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $52,649 | Not available | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Troy UniversityBachelor's Degree | Troy, AL | $41,240 | $28,968 | -115% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | Not available | $33,510 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $11,900 |
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.