University of Chicago Public Policy Analysis: earnings, debt & careers

Public Policy Analysis graduates of University of Chicago earn a median $94,237 four years after graduating ($60,057 after one year), with median federal loan debt of $17,492. That is $24,581 above the U.S. median for Public Policy Analysis graduates ($69,656 across 34 colleges), and ranks 1st of 2 Illinois colleges.

Show numbers for my family

Yearly household income. Saved on this device only. No account needed.

Earnings, 4 years after graduating
$94,237

U.S. median for this major: $69,656.

College Scorecard field of study; 83 graduates with earnings reported

Earnings, 1 year after
$60,057

Median for graduates who received federal aid.

College Scorecard field of study

Median debt at graduation
$17,492

About 19% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $22,170.

College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)

What your family pays
$14,860 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $90,360. College Scorecard.

University of Chicago Public Policy Analysis: pay against the field, and payback

Same major, other colleges

University of Chicago graduates$94,237

Fewer than 3 Illinois colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.

U.S. median (34 colleges)$69,656 (+$24,581)

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 University of Chicago's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.

Family incomeNet price / yrCost to finishYears to pay back
$0–30k$0$0under 1 year
$30–48k$914$3,757under 1 year
$48–75k$226$929under 1 year
$75–110k$12,602$51,794under 1 year
$110k+$48,524$199,4343.4 years

Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (86% 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 ($94,237) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IL (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $58,440 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 Illinois colleges

Every Illinois college we cover that reports Public Policy Analysis graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.

RankCollegeEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debtAvg. net priceGraduation
1University of Chicago$94,237$17,492$14,86096%
2Northwestern University$78,752$18,750$29,16795%

5 more Illinois colleges offer Public Policy Analysis but have too few graduates to report earnings.

Careers for Public Policy Analysis graduates

Medical and Health Services Managers

Chicago area$123,090
Illinois$117,850
U.S.$123,860

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +24.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.

Social Science Research Assistants

Chicago area$64,890
Illinois$64,890
U.S.$61,990

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 University of Chicago, by income

School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.

College Scorecard

About University of Chicago

University of Chicago Public Policy Analysis questions

How much do University of Chicago Public Policy Analysis graduates earn?

Public Policy Analysis graduates of University of Chicago earn a median $94,237 four years after graduating and $60,057 one year after. The U.S. median for Public Policy Analysis graduates across 34 colleges is $69,656.

How much debt do University of Chicago Public Policy Analysis graduates have?

The median federal loan debt for Public Policy Analysis graduates of University of Chicago is $17,492, about 19% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,170.

Where does University of Chicago rank for Public Policy Analysis in Illinois?

Of 2 Illinois colleges reporting Public Policy Analysis graduate earnings, University of Chicago ranks 1st, the highest.

What jobs do Public Policy Analysis graduates get?

A common career is medical and health services managers, with a median wage of $123,090 in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN area and $123,860 nationally. Others include social science research assistants.

Is University of Chicago the right fit for your family?

Get a free report comparing University of Chicago 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 in

We 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: “University of Chicago Public Policy Analysis: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-chicago/majors/public-policy-analysis (College Scorecard and BLS data).