Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 8 reporting college programs.
$74,406 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.
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 Southern California$140,1152Jacksonville State University$85,2993California State University, Fullerton$84,5164St. Joseph's University-New York$78,6775University of Arkansas at Little Rock$70,1356Ball State University$55,2967Tufts University$49,8638Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus$37,523Observed 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. 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 CaliforniaMaster's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $140,115 | Not available | Baseline needed | $32,740 |
| 2 | Jacksonville State UniversityMaster's Degree | Jacksonville, AL | $85,299 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,279 |
| 3 | California State University, FullertonMaster's Degree | Fullerton, CA | $84,516 | Not available | Baseline needed | $6,555 |
| 4 | St. Joseph's University-New YorkMaster's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $78,677 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,035 |
| 5 | University of Arkansas at Little RockMaster's Degree | Little Rock, AR | $70,135 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,248 |
| 6 | Ball State UniversityMaster's Degree | Muncie, IN | $55,296 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,940 |
| 7 | Tufts UniversityMaster's Degree | Medford, MA | $49,863 | Not available | Baseline needed | $39,998 |
| 8 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina CampusMaster's Degree | Carolina, PR | $37,523 | Not available | Baseline needed | $7,761 |
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.