Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Public Policy Analysis bachelor's degree outcomes at William & Mary

Williamsburg, VA · Public · Federal field 4405

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$4,603 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
31.8% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
$15,295 / year
10-year scenario
−6% · Negative payoff
Price evidence
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$69,118 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.

+74%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$36,703$63,860
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
26Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
28Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 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.

70Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
25Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
33Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$35,969Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$69,118$33,149 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.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$19,096

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

02 · BORROWING$22,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$69,118

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$233/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$19,096Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$43,035Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE34.1%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE89.4%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.

$36,703Year 1
$69,118Year 4
$63,860Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.0% 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$5,760
Estimated loan payment$233
28borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$69,118 vs. $73,721

$4,603 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.
Social Science Research Assistants$53,260 median wageVA estimate · 700 jobs · 19-4061+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePolitical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$101,430 median wageVA estimate · 830 jobs · 25-1065+2.5% projected U.S. growth · 1.5k 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 · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSocial Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$140,670 median wageVA estimate · 3,380 jobs · 19-3099-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 2.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedical and Health Services Managers$129,270 median wageVA estimate · 10,210 jobs · 11-9111+24.2% projected U.S. growth · 62.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeHealth Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$106,880 median wageVA estimate · 5,040 jobs · 25-1071+17.9% projected U.S. growth · 24.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEducation Teachers, Postsecondary$77,060 median wageVA estimate · 1,630 jobs · 25-1081+2.5% projected U.S. growth · 5.3k 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.

Blacksburg, VA

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

$6,532 less debt

Earnings
$66,177
Debt
$15,468
Annual net price
$24,953
View outcomes →
Princeton, NJ

Princeton University

$38,674 higher earnings · $11,473 less debt · $12,968 lower annual net price

Earnings
$107,792
Debt
$10,527
Annual net price
$6,128
View outcomes →
Chicago, IL

University of Chicago

$25,119 higher earnings · $4,508 less debt · $4,236 lower annual net price

Earnings
$94,237
Debt
$17,492
Annual net price
$14,860
View outcomes →
University, MS

University of Mississippi

$16,220 higher earnings · $1,000 less debt · $5,782 lower annual net price

Earnings
$85,338
Debt
$21,000
Annual net price
$13,314
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

26 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.

Calculate my payoff →