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GRADUATE/PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 4405

Public Policy Analysis: is this graduate/professional certificate worth it?

National picture across 1 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$89,003 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.

$89,003Median year-4 earnings

$32,740Average institution net-price context

Not availableMedian federal debt

Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$89,003Median reported earnings · year 4

$95,677Average reported earnings · year 5

Not availableMedian federal debt

64thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

1Reporting programs

1With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

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

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $69,656
Federal debt: $22,000
Reporting programs: 40

34 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $89,111
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 50

50 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

First Professional Degree

Year-4 earnings: $113,884
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →CURRENT VIEW

Graduate/Professional Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $89,003
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

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$89,003National median$89,00375th percentile$89,003

1 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1University of Southern California$89,003

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

Social Science Research AssistantsSOC 19-4061 · 4 crosswalk linksPolitical Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1065 · 3 crosswalk linksPolitical ScientistsSOC 19-3094 · 2 crosswalk linksSocial Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherSOC 19-3099 · 2 crosswalk linksEducation Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1081 · 1 crosswalk linksHealth Specialties Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1071 · 1 crosswalk linksLegislatorsSOC 11-1031 · 1 crosswalk linksMedical and Health Services ManagersSOC 11-9111 · 1 crosswalk linksNO MATCHSOC 99-9999 · 1 crosswalk links

BEST COLLEGES FOR PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS

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 Southern CaliforniaGraduate/Professional Certificate	Los Angeles, CA	$89,003	Not available	Baseline needed	$32,740

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.