U.S. median for this major: $61,551.
College Scorecard field of study; 16 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 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 $22,278. College Scorecard.
University of Northern Iowa Public Administration: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Iowa 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 University of Northern Iowa'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 | $10,863 | $47,797 | 2.2 years |
| $30–48k | $11,751 | $51,704 | 2.4 years |
| $48–75k | $14,099 | $62,036 | 2.9 years |
| $75–110k | $17,740 | $78,056 | 3.6 years |
| $110k+ | $18,706 | $82,306 | 3.8 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 ($58,307) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $21,646 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 Iowa colleges
Every Iowa 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 | Upper Iowa University | $70,374 | $31,000 | $20,942 | 34% |
| 2 | University of Northern Iowa | $58,307 | $27,000 | $15,901 | 68% |
5 more Iowa 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 University of Northern Iowa, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Northern Iowa
- Acceptance rate: 93% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 68% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $55,177
- Full cost breakdown · all 69 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Northern Iowa
- Criminal Justice—
- Criminology$54,993
- Social Work$50,629
- Business Administration$74,838
University of Northern Iowa Public Administration questions
How much do University of Northern Iowa Public Administration graduates earn?
Public Administration graduates of University of Northern Iowa earn a median $58,307 four years after graduating and $38,877 one year after. The U.S. median for Public Administration graduates across 44 colleges is $61,551.
How much debt do University of Northern Iowa Public Administration graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Public Administration graduates of University of Northern Iowa is $27,000, about 46% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $21,686.
Where does University of Northern Iowa rank for Public Administration in Iowa?
Of 2 Iowa colleges reporting Public Administration graduate earnings, University of Northern Iowa ranks 2nd. The highest is Upper Iowa University at $70,374.
What jobs do Public Administration graduates get?
A common career is general and operations managers, with a median wage of $82,400 in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA 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: “University of Northern Iowa Public Administration: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-northern-iowa/majors/public-administration (College Scorecard and BLS data).