Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other programs
CIP 4499 · Public Administration & Social Service · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
17 institutions report graduate earnings for Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $68,014 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40× and 85% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 2 of the 18 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern CaliforniaCA · Master's | $140,115 n=23 | 96% 5yr | $51,250 | 0.37× | Above +86% | — |
| 2 | University of Virginia-Main CampusVA · Bachelor's | $109,851 n=39 | 85% 5yr | $19,500 | 0.18× | Above +189% | Clears 2/2 |
| 3 | Jacksonville State UniversityAL · Master's | $85,299 n=22 | 91% 1yr | $35,900 | 0.42× | Above +49% | — |
| 4 | California State University-FullertonCA · Master's | $84,516 n=30 | 90% 5yr | $33,250 | 0.39× | Above +12% | Clears 2/2 |
| 5 | St. Joseph's University-New YorkNY · Master's | $78,677 n=18 | 81% 1yr | $39,275 | 0.50× | Above +11% | Below 1/2 |
| 6 | Empire State UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $72,188 n=39 | 76% 5yr | $23,375 | 0.32× | Above +90% | Clears 2/2 |
| 7 | University of Arkansas at Little RockAR · Master's | $70,135 n=31 | 84% 1yr | $25,446 | 0.36× | Above +29% | — |
| 8 | University of California-DavisCA · Bachelor's | $69,702 n=72 | 83% 5yr | $14,171 | 0.20× | Above +81% | Clears 2/2 |
| 9 | University at AlbanyNY · Bachelor's | $68,928 n=50 | 100% 5yr | $18,400 | 0.27× | Above +81% | — |
| 10 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickNJ · Bachelor's | $67,099 n=64 | 88% 5yr | $26,500 | 0.40× | Above +68% | Clears 2/2 |
| 11 | Rutgers University-NewarkNJ · Bachelor's | $67,099 n=64 | 88% 5yr | $26,500 | 0.40× | Above +68% | Clears 2/2 |
| 12 | Park UniversityMO · Bachelor's | $60,550 n=19 | — | — | — | Above +69% | — |
| 13 | Jacksonville State UniversityAL · Bachelor's | $57,191 n=35 | 77% 5yr | $27,667 | 0.48× | Above +66% | Clears 2/2 |
| 14 | Ball State UniversityIN · Master's | $55,296 n=25 | 92% 1yr | $32,087 | 0.58× | Below -5% | — |
| 15 | National Louis UniversityIL · Bachelor's | $52,649 n=18 | 73% 5yr | $12,500 | 0.24× | Above +40% | Clears 2/2 |
| 16 | Tufts UniversityMA · Master's | $49,863 n=16 | 100% 5yr | $57,698 | 1.16× | Below -34% | — |
| 17 | Troy UniversityAL · Bachelor's | $41,240 n=62 | 65% 5yr | $26,500 | 0.64× | Above +20% | Clears 2/2 |
| 18 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina CampusPR · Master's | $37,523 n=25 | 62% 5yr | $40,580 | 1.08× | Above +35% | Clears 2/2 |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years — the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| California | $84,516 | 3 |
| New York | $72,188 | 3 |
| Alabama | $57,191 | 3 |
States with at least 3 reporting Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other programs in this dataset are University of Southern California ($140,115), University of Virginia-Main Campus ($109,851), Jacksonville State University ($85,299). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 2 of the 18 Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.