U.S. median for this major: $61,551.
College Scorecard field of study; 92 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 52% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $21,686.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $28,367. College Scorecard.
GVSU Public Administration: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Michigan colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Public Administration nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses GVSU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $12,272 | $54,242 | 3.3 years |
| $30–48k | $11,902 | $52,607 | 3.2 years |
| $48–75k | $12,861 | $56,846 | 3.5 years |
| $75–110k | $16,609 | $73,412 | 4.5 years |
| $110k+ | $22,534 | $99,600 | 6.1 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (45% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Public Administration graduates 4 years after graduating ($49,776) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $16,365 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Public Administration at Michigan colleges
Every Michigan college we cover that reports Public Administration graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wayne State University | $66,396 | $30,750 | $12,766 | 58% |
| 2 | Grand Valley State University | $49,776 | $25,697 | $16,317 | 67% |
8 more Michigan colleges offer Public Administration but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Public Administration graduates
General and Operations Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Construction Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +9.1% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Social and Community Service Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +7.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at GVSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About GVSU
- Acceptance rate: 83% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 67% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $56,118
- Full cost breakdown · all 83 majors · overview
Related majors at GVSU
- Criminal Justice$57,537
- Social Work$50,690
- Business Administration$79,324
GVSU Public Administration questions
How much do GVSU Public Administration graduates earn?
Public Administration graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median $49,776 four years after graduating and $36,236 one year after. The U.S. median for Public Administration graduates across 44 colleges is $61,551.
How much debt do GVSU Public Administration graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Public Administration graduates of Grand Valley State University is $25,697, about 52% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $21,686.
Where does GVSU rank for Public Administration in Michigan?
Of 2 Michigan colleges reporting Public Administration graduate earnings, Grand Valley State University ranks 2nd. The highest is Wayne State University at $66,396.
What jobs do Public Administration graduates get?
A common career is general and operations managers, with a median wage of $101,720 in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI area and $105,770 nationally. Others include construction managers and social and community service managers.
Is GVSU the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing GVSU with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Grand Valley State University Public Administration: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/grand-valley-state-university/majors/public-administration (College Scorecard and BLS data).