U.S. median for this major: $61,551.
College Scorecard field of study; 22 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 34% 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 $19,593. College Scorecard.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse 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 University of Wisconsin-La Crosse'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 | $8,224 | $35,774 | 1.6 years |
| $30–48k | $8,766 | $38,132 | 1.7 years |
| $48–75k | $10,608 | $46,145 | 2.0 years |
| $75–110k | $17,394 | $75,664 | 3.4 years |
| $110k+ | $18,991 | $82,611 | 3.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (49% 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 ($60,079) minus $37,564 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $22,515 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 Wisconsin colleges
Every Wisconsin 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 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | $60,383 | $27,187 | $14,158 | 59% |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | $60,079 | $20,500 | $16,210 | 71% |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | $48,958 | — | $13,369 | 48% |
3 more Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin-La Crosse, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
- Acceptance rate: 76% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 71% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $60,378
- Full cost breakdown · all 45 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
- Business Administration$67,521
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Public Administration questions
How much do University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Public Administration graduates earn?
Public Administration graduates of University of Wisconsin-La Crosse earn a median $60,079 four years after graduating and $43,632 one year after. The U.S. median for Public Administration graduates across 44 colleges is $61,551.
How much debt do University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Public Administration graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Public Administration graduates of University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is $20,500, about 34% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $21,686.
Is University of Wisconsin-La Crosse a good school for Public Administration in Wisconsin?
On pay, Public Administration graduates of University of Wisconsin-La Crosse earn $60,079 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 3 Wisconsin colleges ($60,079) and $1,472 below the U.S. median ($61,551). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of Wisconsin-La Crosse rank for Public Administration in Wisconsin?
Of 3 Wisconsin colleges reporting Public Administration graduate earnings, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse ranks 2nd. The highest is University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at $60,383.
What jobs do Public Administration graduates get?
A common career is general and operations managers, with a median wage of $102,670 in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN 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 Wisconsin-La Crosse Public Administration: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-wisconsin-la-crosse/majors/public-administration (College Scorecard and BLS data).