COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES
Public Administration bachelor's degree at James Madison University
Harrisonburg, 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.
$6,533 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
- Debt as a share of earnings
- 27.2% of annual earnings
- Highest price with a positive payoff
- $21,565 / year
- Modeled 10-year payoff
- −3% · 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.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$86,260
$8,000Annual price+$54,260
$16,000Annual price+$22,260
$23,000Current college-wide context−$5,740
$24,000Current college-wide context−$9,740
$32,000Annual price−$41,740
$40,000Annual price−$73,740
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
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.
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$35,969Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$71,626$35,657 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: 15 Parent PLUS borrowers.
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$23,322
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$19,500
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$71,626
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$207/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.
Enter my price →AVERAGE NET PRICE$23,322Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$31,735Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE71.5%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE79.7%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.
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
3.5% 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$5,969
Estimated loan payment$207
59borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$71,626 vs. $65,093
$6,533 above the national median for the same field and credential.
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.
Health Care and Social Assistance
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Public Administration
Educational Services
Other Services (except Public Administration)
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.
George Mason University
$5,407 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $67,973
- Debt
- $20,106
- Annual net price
- $17,915
Barry University
$26,076 higher earnings · $709 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $97,702
- Debt
- $25,728
- Annual net price
- $22,613
University of Maryland Global Campus
$14,283 higher earnings · $1,259 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $85,909
- Debt
- $29,202
- Annual net price
- $22,063
California State University, Northridge
$14,163 higher earnings · $16,301 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $85,789
- Debt
- $37,500
- Annual net price
- $7,021
DATA QUALITY
Check the evidence behind the estimate.
31 observations in the earnings cohort
June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release
Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page
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 →