U.S. median for this major: $61,551.
College Scorecard field of study; 47 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 42% 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 $22,183. College Scorecard.
IPFW Public Administration: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
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 IPFW'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 | $8,306 | $36,629 | 2.1 years |
| $30–48k | $8,703 | $38,380 | 2.2 years |
| $48–75k | $12,444 | $54,878 | 3.1 years |
| $75–110k | $18,430 | $81,276 | 4.6 years |
| $110k+ | $20,224 | $89,188 | 5.0 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (22% 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 ($53,257) minus $35,534 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IN (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $17,723 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 Indiana colleges
Every Indiana 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 | Indiana University-Bloomington | $77,422 | $20,731 | $16,264 | 80% |
| 2 | Indiana University-Indianapolis | $60,564 | $25,000 | $11,668 | 54% |
| 3 | Purdue University Fort Wayne | $53,257 | $22,242 | $13,171 | 36% |
3 more Indiana 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 IPFW, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About IPFW
- Acceptance rate: 84% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 36% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $45,872
- Full cost breakdown · all 56 majors · overview
Related majors at IPFW
- Criminal Justice$46,046
- Human Services—
- Business Administration$60,816
IPFW Public Administration questions
How much do IPFW Public Administration graduates earn?
Public Administration graduates of Purdue University Fort Wayne earn a median $53,257 four years after graduating and $34,780 one year after. The U.S. median for Public Administration graduates across 44 colleges is $61,551.
How much debt do IPFW Public Administration graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Public Administration graduates of Purdue University Fort Wayne is $22,242, about 42% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $21,686.
Is IPFW a good school for Public Administration in Indiana?
On pay, Public Administration graduates of Purdue University Fort Wayne earn $53,257 four years out, $7,307 below the median for the same major across 3 Indiana colleges ($60,564) and $8,294 below the U.S. median ($61,551). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does IPFW rank for Public Administration in Indiana?
Of 3 Indiana colleges reporting Public Administration graduate earnings, Purdue University Fort Wayne ranks 3rd. The highest is Indiana University-Bloomington at $77,422.
What jobs do Public Administration graduates get?
A common career is general and operations managers, with a median wage of $107,780 in the Fort Wayne, IN area and $105,770 nationally. Others include construction managers and social and community service managers.
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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: “Purdue University Fort Wayne Public Administration: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/purdue-university-fort-wayne/majors/public-administration (College Scorecard and BLS data).