Public Policy Analysis bachelor's degree at Princeton University
Princeton, NJ · Private nonprofit
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 notably above similar programs.
$34,071 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
Debt as a share of earnings
9.8% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
$111,980 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff
+207% · Strong 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.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$447,920
$6,000Current college-wide context+$423,920
$20,000Annual price+$367,920
$40,000Annual price+$287,920
$60,000Annual price+$207,920
$80,000Annual price+$127,920
$100,000Annual price+$47,920
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+34%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$73,630 → $98,995Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohortNot availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort16Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median24Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt medianNot availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot availableRecent 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.
97Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment44Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers68Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program countNot reportedFederal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$107,792$72,984 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$6,128
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$10,527
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$107,792
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$112/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.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$73,630Year 1
$107,792Year 4
$98,995Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
1.2% 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$8,983
Estimated loan payment$112
24borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$107,792 vs. $73,721
$34,071 above 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.
Social Science Research Assistants$62,760 median wageNJ estimate · 370 jobs · 19-4061$49,390–$85,270 middle 50% of NJ wages+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePolitical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$100,260 median wageNJ estimate · 650 jobs · 25-1065$62,230–$119,450 middle 50% of NJ wages+2.5% projected U.S. growth · 1,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePolitical Scientists$142,080 median wageU.S. estimate · 5,540 jobs · 19-3094-2.0% projected U.S. growth · 400 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSocial Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$101,260 median wageNJ estimate · 350 jobs · 19-3099$90,020–$120,520 middle 50% of NJ wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 2,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedical and Health Services Managers$145,650 median wageNJ estimate · 16,900 jobs · 11-9111$117,760–$208,030 middle 50% of NJ wages+24.2% projected U.S. growth · 62,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeHealth Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$96,630 median wageNJ estimate · 2,960 jobs · 25-1071$64,140–$152,620 middle 50% of NJ wages+17.9% projected U.S. growth · 24,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEducation Teachers, Postsecondary$77,600 median wageNJ estimate · 2,580 jobs · 25-1081$49,910–$101,990 middle 50% of NJ wages+2.5% projected U.S. growth · 5,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeLegislatorsNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 11-1031NO MATCHNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 99-9999
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.