U.S. median for this major: $69,656.
College Scorecard field of study; 27 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 45% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $22,170.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $32,198. College Scorecard.
MSU Public Policy Analysis: 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 Policy Analysis nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses MSU'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 | $7,068 | $29,968 | 1.2 years |
| $30–48k | $10,830 | $45,919 | 1.8 years |
| $48–75k | $16,521 | $70,049 | 2.8 years |
| $75–110k | $22,703 | $96,261 | 3.8 years |
| $110k+ | $28,546 | $121,035 | 4.8 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (65% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Public Policy Analysis graduates 4 years after graduating ($58,535) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $25,124 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 Policy Analysis at Michigan colleges
Every Michigan college we cover that reports Public Policy Analysis 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 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $73,749 | $21,000 | $13,138 | 93% |
| 2 | Michigan State University | $58,535 | $26,337 | $19,680 | 81% |
1 more Michigan college offers Public Policy Analysis but has too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Public Policy Analysis graduates
Medical and Health Services Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +24.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Social Science Research Assistants
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.0% 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 MSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About MSU
- Acceptance rate: 85% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 81% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $67,253
- Full cost breakdown · all 105 majors · overview
Related majors at MSU
- Public Administration—
- Environmental / Natural Resources Management and Policy$68,913
MSU Public Policy Analysis questions
How much do MSU Public Policy Analysis graduates earn?
Public Policy Analysis graduates of Michigan State University earn a median $58,535 four years after graduating and $43,005 one year after. The U.S. median for Public Policy Analysis graduates across 34 colleges is $69,656.
How much debt do MSU Public Policy Analysis graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Public Policy Analysis graduates of Michigan State University is $26,337, about 45% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,170.
Where does MSU rank for Public Policy Analysis in Michigan?
Of 2 Michigan colleges reporting Public Policy Analysis graduate earnings, Michigan State University ranks 2nd. The highest is University of Michigan-Ann Arbor at $73,749.
What jobs do Public Policy Analysis graduates get?
A common career is medical and health services managers, with a median wage of $104,990 in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI area and $123,860 nationally. Others include social science research assistants.
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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: “Michigan State University Public Policy Analysis: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/michigan-state-university/majors/public-policy-analysis (College Scorecard and BLS data).