WhatGradsMake
Doctoral (Research)+6% vs national median144 grads tracked

Public Administration and Social Service Professions at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

Ranked 9th of 33 doctoral (research) programs in Public Administration and Social Service Professions by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$88,240
middle 50%: $66,229 – $109,603
Median · 5 years out
$106,181
middle 50%: $89,458 – $127,993
Median · 10 years out
$109,070
middle 50%: $80,205 – $141,116

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Public Administration and Social Service Professions (doctoral (research)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill's doctoral (research) program in Public Administration and Social Service Professions earn a median $88,240 one year after graduating, rising to $109,070 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 6% above the national median of $100,394 for this field, ranking 9th of 33 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
3.7 yrs
≈ $3,817 total interest

Same major at other universities

George Mason University
$130,148 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Denver
$120,903 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Dallas
$114,273 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Stony Brook
$112,807 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Graduate School & University Center
$110,405 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$109,693 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$104,398 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Commonwealth University
$103,104 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$102,996 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$102,715 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$102,614 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$100,394 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$214,723 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$192,150 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$178,780 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$167,515 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$151,181 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$150,648 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$147,757 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$140,602 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$127,840 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$125,175 · 5 yrs out
Journalism (Bachelor's)
$124,373 · 5 yrs out
Library Science (Doctorate)
$121,393 · 5 yrs out

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