Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 11 reporting college programs.
−$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.
Observed national outcomes
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.
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.
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.
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.