Public Administration master's degree outcomes at Northwestern University

Evanston, IL · Private nonprofit · Federal field 4404

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are notably above the same-degree benchmark.

$17,390 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: Not available
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $223,990 / year
10-year scenario: Use your actual price
Price evidence: College-wide context only

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+45%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$73,260 → $106,467

—Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

30Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

74Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

—Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

1Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$29,167

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWINGNot available

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$98,798

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENTNot available

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$29,167Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$91,250Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE7.7%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE95.1%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$73,260Year 1

$98,798Year 4

$106,467Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

Repayment pressure is not available

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$8,233

Estimated loan paymentNot available

—borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$98,798 vs. $81,408

$17,390 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Managers, All Other$140,240 median wageIL estimate · 31,680 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTransportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$120,250 median wageIL estimate · 11,030 jobs · 11-3071+6.1% projected U.S. growth · 18.3k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentChief Executives$331,920 median wageIL estimate · 4,620 jobs · 11-1011+3.2% projected U.S. growth · 19.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeConstruction Managers$109,160 median wageIL estimate · 19,160 jobs · 11-9021+9.1% projected U.S. growth · 49.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeGeneral and Operations Managers$103,570 median wageIL estimate · 171,300 jobs · 11-1021+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 285k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePostmasters and Mail Superintendents$94,970 median wageIL estimate · 510 jobs · 11-9131-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 0.9k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentUrban and Regional Planners$91,360 median wageIL estimate · 1,140 jobs · 19-3051+3.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSocial and Community Service Managers$78,380 median wageIL estimate · 7,520 jobs · 11-9151+7.2% projected U.S. growth · 18.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTraffic Technicians$70,970 median wageIL estimate · 40 jobs · 53-6041+4.0% projected U.S. growth · 0.9k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentLegislatorsNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 11-1031

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