Public Administration master's degree at George Mason University
Fairfax, VA · 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 notably above similar programs.
$19,284 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
Debt as a share of earnings
Not available
Highest price with a positive payoff
$233,460 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff
Withheld by data safeguards
Available price data
College-wide context only
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+29%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$78,076 → $100,653Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort56Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort94Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 medianNot availableBorrowers 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.
105Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completersNot reportedPell Grant recipients2024–25 program count46Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
99Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$46,158Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$100,692$54,534 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.
GRADUATE-DEGREE BASELINE
$100,692 vs. $65,093
$35,599 above the national bachelor’s median in the same field.
Comparison basis47 bachelor’s program records
This is a cross-cohort benchmark, not the salary increase caused by earning this graduate credential. Your current earnings remain the correct baseline for personal ROI.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$17,915
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWINGNot available
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$100,692
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENTNot available
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.
$78,076Year 1
$100,692Year 4
$100,653Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
Repayment pressure is not available
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$8,391
Estimated loan paymentNot available
Not availableborrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$100,692 vs. $81,408
$19,284 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.
Managers, All Other$166,230 median wageVA estimate · 21,560 jobs · 11-9199$138,670–$195,190 middle 50% of VA wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTransportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$119,140 median wageVA estimate · 3,380 jobs · 11-3071$93,570–$157,250 middle 50% of VA wages+6.1% projected U.S. growth · 18,300 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentChief Executives$310,740 median wageVA estimate · 4,870 jobs · 11-1011$193,700–$434,580 middle 50% of VA wages+3.2% projected U.S. growth · 19,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeGeneral and Operations Managers$122,080 median wageVA estimate · 103,590 jobs · 11-1021$78,240–$178,490 middle 50% of VA wages+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 285,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeConstruction Managers$119,110 median wageVA estimate · 7,290 jobs · 11-9021$96,390–$153,220 middle 50% of VA wages+9.1% projected U.S. growth · 49,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSocial and Community Service Managers$94,970 median wageVA estimate · 3,300 jobs · 11-9151$74,080–$120,180 middle 50% of VA wages+7.2% projected U.S. growth · 18,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePostmasters and Mail Superintendents$94,790 median wageVA estimate · 370 jobs · 11-9131$89,770–$101,310 middle 50% of VA wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 900 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentUrban and Regional Planners$86,030 median wageVA estimate · 1,740 jobs · 19-3051$70,530–$107,110 middle 50% of VA wages+3.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeTraffic Technicians$62,270 median wageVA estimate · 90 jobs · 53-6041$54,250–$80,650 middle 50% of VA 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
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS
Where graduates work five years later
The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.
01
Public Administration
about 28.0%02
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
about 23.4%03
Health Care and Social Assistance
about 12.6%04
Other Services (except Public Administration)
about 12.3%05
Educational Services
about 7.2%
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.