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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Public Administration bachelor's degree at Grand Valley State University

Allendale, MI · Public

What this page covers

Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are below similar programs.

$15,317 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
51.6% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−81% · Negative payoff
Available price data
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$49,776 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+39%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$36,236 → $50,338
69Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
64Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
94Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
109Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$21,960Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
0Recent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

83Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
42Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
56Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
91Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,989Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$49,776$16,787 above the preliminary benchmark

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$16,317

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

02 · BORROWING$25,697

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$49,776

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$272/mo

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.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$16,317Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$28,367Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE83.0%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE67.0%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.

$36,236Year 1
$49,776Year 4
$50,338Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

6.6% of gross monthly earnings

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

Gross monthly earnings$4,148
Estimated loan payment$272
109borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$49,776 vs. $65,093

$15,317 below 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$134,260 median wageMI estimate · 9,380 jobs · 11-9199$104,810–$169,280 middle 50% of MI wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTransportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$99,100 median wageMI estimate · 8,180 jobs · 11-3071$77,100–$128,990 middle 50% of MI wages+6.1% projected U.S. growth · 18,300 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentChief Executives$255,560 median wageMI estimate · 4,950 jobs · 11-1011$160,010–$405,120 middle 50% of MI wages+3.2% projected U.S. growth · 19,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeConstruction Managers$103,230 median wageMI estimate · 9,620 jobs · 11-9021$79,830–$133,400 middle 50% of MI wages+9.1% projected U.S. growth · 49,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeGeneral and Operations Managers$99,530 median wageMI estimate · 85,860 jobs · 11-1021$65,000–$155,330 middle 50% of MI wages+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 285,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePostmasters and Mail Superintendents$97,790 median wageMI estimate · 450 jobs · 11-9131$93,290–$104,230 middle 50% of MI wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 900 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentSocial and Community Service Managers$85,500 median wageMI estimate · 6,320 jobs · 11-9151$64,190–$102,090 middle 50% of MI wages+7.2% projected U.S. growth · 18,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeUrban and Regional Planners$78,510 median wageMI estimate · 1,380 jobs · 19-3051$64,280–$92,520 middle 50% of MI wages+3.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeTraffic Technicians$37,890 median wageMI estimate · 100 jobs · 53-6041$37,890–$66,660 middle 50% of MI wages+4.0% projected U.S. growth · 900 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentLegislatorsNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 11-1031
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Detroit, MI

Wayne State University

$16,620 higher earnings · $3,551 lower annual net price

Earnings
$66,396
Debt
$30,750
Annual net price
$12,766
View outcomes →
Bloomington, IN

Indiana University-Bloomington

$27,646 higher earnings · $4,966 less debt · $53 lower annual net price

Earnings
$77,422
Debt
$20,731
Annual net price
$16,264
View outcomes →
Cullowhee, NC

Western Carolina University

$20,555 higher earnings · $7,322 less debt · $3,002 lower annual net price

Earnings
$70,331
Debt
$18,375
Annual net price
$13,315
View outcomes →
New York, NY

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

$19,257 higher earnings · $12,447 less debt · $13,284 lower annual net price

Earnings
$69,033
Debt
$13,250
Annual net price
$3,033
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

94 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

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