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 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 $27,350. College Scorecard.
WSU Public Administration: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Michigan 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 WSU'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 | $11,090 | $50,127 | 1.5 years |
| $30–48k | $10,721 | $48,459 | 1.5 years |
| $48–75k | $12,068 | $54,547 | 1.7 years |
| $75–110k | $14,828 | $67,023 | 2.0 years |
| $110k+ | $19,862 | $89,776 | 2.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (33% 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 ($66,396) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $32,985 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 Michigan colleges
Every Michigan 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 | Wayne State University | $66,396 | $30,750 | $12,766 | 58% |
| 2 | Grand Valley State University | $49,776 | $25,697 | $16,317 | 67% |
8 more Michigan 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 WSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About WSU
- Acceptance rate: 81% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 58% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $53,493
- Full cost breakdown · all 84 majors · overview
Related majors at WSU
- Criminal Justice$56,423
- Social Work$56,152
- Business Administration—
WSU Public Administration questions
How much do WSU Public Administration graduates earn?
Public Administration graduates of Wayne State University earn a median $66,396 four years after graduating and $38,767 one year after. The U.S. median for Public Administration graduates across 44 colleges is $61,551.
How much debt do WSU Public Administration graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Public Administration graduates of Wayne State University is $30,750, about 46% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $21,686.
Where does WSU rank for Public Administration in Michigan?
Of 2 Michigan colleges reporting Public Administration graduate earnings, Wayne State University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Public Administration graduates get?
A common career is general and operations managers, with a median wage of $104,010 in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 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: “Wayne State University Public Administration: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/wayne-state-university/majors/public-administration (College Scorecard and BLS data).