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SAME FIELD · SAME CREDENTIAL · ONE STATE

Public Administration master's degree programs in California

Compare 22 reporting programs using the same federal field and master's degree credential definition. Earnings are observed four years after completion.

22Programs reporting earnings
$88,988Median year-4 earnings
Not availableMedian federal debt
0Programs reporting debt
OUTCOME SPREAD

Highest reported earnings in California

Each bar uses the same field, credential, state and earnings year.

1Golden Gate UniversitySan Francisco · Debt not reported$122,5982San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco · Debt not reported$108,0933University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles · Debt not reported$103,7214California State University, East BayHayward · Debt not reported$99,8795University of San FranciscoSan Francisco · Debt not reported$99,1416California Baptist UniversityRiverside · Debt not reported$98,0567Notre Dame de Namur UniversityBelmont · Debt not reported$93,4658California State University, NorthridgeNorthridge · Debt not reported$92,3539San Diego State UniversitySan Diego · Debt not reported$91,30310Middlebury Institute of International Studies at MontereyMonterey · Debt not reported$89,916
CAREER CONTEXT IN CA

What related occupations pay in California

These are common occupational matches for this field, ranked by the strength of the federal education-to-occupation match.

11-9199Managers, All Other
State median wage
$174,560
Middle 50% wage range
$132,000–$221,560
State employment
99,580
Projected growth
+4.9%
Annual openings
100,900
10th–90th percentile: $98,280–$303,680
11-3071Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
State median wage
$123,780
Middle 50% wage range
$86,290–$166,100
State employment
30,540
Projected growth
+6.1%
Annual openings
18,300
10th–90th percentile: $71,260–$208,420
11-1011Chief Executives
State median wage
$218,600
Middle 50% wage range
$133,610–$351,090
State employment
34,700
Projected growth
+3.2%
Annual openings
19,100
10th–90th percentile: $85,790–$486,830
11-9021Construction Managers
State median wage
$133,160
Middle 50% wage range
$102,780–$168,070
State employment
34,750
Projected growth
+9.1%
Annual openings
49,700
10th–90th percentile: $82,100–$211,970
11-1021General and Operations Managers
State median wage
$124,390
Middle 50% wage range
$81,620–$186,230
State employment
300,840
Projected growth
+5.0%
Annual openings
285,000
10th–90th percentile: $60,370–$293,810
19-3051Urban and Regional Planners
State median wage
$109,610
Middle 50% wage range
$90,330–$136,070
State employment
7,460
Projected growth
+3.9%
Annual openings
3,200
10th–90th percentile: $77,430–$166,950
11-9131Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
State median wage
$101,150
Middle 50% wage range
$94,350–$111,740
State employment
800
Projected growth
-0.3%
Annual openings
900
10th–90th percentile: $85,570–$122,930
11-9151Social and Community Service Managers
State median wage
$83,210
Middle 50% wage range
$70,810–$114,090
State employment
33,510
Projected growth
+7.2%
Annual openings
18,500
10th–90th percentile: $56,510–$149,280

Career wages and employment are BLS estimates for everyone working in each occupation in California; they are not earnings or placement rates for graduates of these programs. Wage ranges show the distribution across workers, not an entry-to-experienced career path. Growth and annual openings are national 2025–35 projections. BLS reports openings in thousands; DegreeVerdict displays the corresponding job count. These figures provide labor-market context and are not used in DegreeVerdict payoff or ROI calculations.

ALL REPORTING PROGRAMS

Compare every available outcome

Sorted by observed year-4 earnings. Open a row for its exact college-and-degree profile.

#CollegeCityMedian year-4 earningsMedian federal debt
1Golden Gate UniversitySan Francisco$122,598Not available
2San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco$108,093Not available
3University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles$103,721Not available
4California State University, East BayHayward$99,879Not available
5University of San FranciscoSan Francisco$99,141Not available
6California Baptist UniversityRiverside$98,056Not available
7Notre Dame de Namur UniversityBelmont$93,465Not available
8California State University, NorthridgeNorthridge$92,353Not available
9San Diego State UniversitySan Diego$91,303Not available
10Middlebury Institute of International Studies at MontereyMonterey$89,916Not available
11California State University, Dominguez HillsCarson$89,849Not available
12National UniversitySan Diego$88,988Not available
13California State University, Long BeachLong Beach$86,271Not available
14California State University, FresnoFresno$85,549Not available
15California State University, San BernardinoSan Bernardino$85,338Not available
16California State University, BakersfieldBakersfield$85,123Not available
17California State University, SacramentoSacramento$84,962Not available
18University of the PacificStockton$84,392Not available
19California State Polytechnic University-PomonaPomona$81,998Not available
20California Lutheran UniversityThousand Oaks$77,919Not available
21California State University, Los AngelesLos Angeles$72,670Not available
22California State University, ChicoChico$68,840Not available

This is an observed-outcomes comparison, not a universal quality ranking. Missing and privacy-suppressed programs are excluded.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

A quick read on Public Administration in California

What do Public Administration master's degree graduates earn in California?

Across 22 reporting programs, the median observed earnings figure is $88,988 four years after completion.

How much federal debt is reported for these programs?

The current federal release does not contain enough reportable debt figures for this comparison.

Which California colleges report the highest earnings for this degree?

The table compares the same federal field, credential and earnings year. Golden Gate University has the highest reported figure among the programs shown.