U.S. median for this major: $61,551.
College Scorecard field of study; 55 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 46% 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 $28,073. College Scorecard.
SWT 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 SWT'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 | $12,715 | $56,073 | 2.2 years |
| $30–48k | $13,557 | $59,786 | 2.3 years |
| $48–75k | $13,804 | $60,876 | 2.4 years |
| $75–110k | $20,028 | $88,323 | 3.5 years |
| $110k+ | $24,713 | $108,984 | 4.3 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (37% 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 ($59,074) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in TX (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $25,558 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 Texas colleges
Every Texas 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 | West Texas A & M University | $74,261 | $24,798 | $19,487 | 55% |
| 2 | Texas State University | $59,074 | $27,418 | $16,805 | 55% |
| 3 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | $56,557 | $20,500 | $10,836 | 53% |
| 4 | The University of Texas at Dallas | $55,467 | $17,961 | $18,267 | 76% |
7 more Texas 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 SWT, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About SWT
- Acceptance rate: 89% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 55% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $56,906
- Full cost breakdown · all 76 majors · overview
Related majors at SWT
- Criminal Justice$52,447
- Social Work$52,766
- Business Administration$67,048
SWT Public Administration questions
How much do SWT Public Administration graduates earn?
Public Administration graduates of Texas State University earn a median $59,074 four years after graduating and $46,491 one year after. The U.S. median for Public Administration graduates across 44 colleges is $61,551.
How much debt do SWT Public Administration graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Public Administration graduates of Texas State University is $27,418, about 46% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $21,686.
Is SWT a good school for Public Administration in Texas?
On pay, Public Administration graduates of Texas State University earn $59,074 four years out, $1,258 above the median for the same major across 4 Texas colleges ($57,816) and $2,477 below the U.S. median ($61,551). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does SWT rank for Public Administration in Texas?
Of 4 Texas colleges reporting Public Administration graduate earnings, Texas State University ranks 2nd. The highest is West Texas A & M University at $74,261.
What jobs do Public Administration graduates get?
A common career is general and operations managers, with a median wage of $117,850 in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX area and $105,770 nationally. Others include construction managers and social and community service managers.
Is SWT the right fit for your family?
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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: “Texas State University Public Administration: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/texas-state-university/majors/public-administration (College Scorecard and BLS data).