WhatGradsMake
Master's-3% vs national median618 grads tracked

Public Administration and Social Service Professions at Western Carolina University

Ranked 128th of 180 master's programs in Public Administration and Social Service Professions by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$50,474
middle 50%: $41,731 – $60,696
Median · 5 years out
$63,290
middle 50%: $50,297 – $80,486
Median · 10 years out
$72,585
middle 50%: $56,346 – $97,664

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Public Administration and Social Service Professions (master's) graduates.

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

Graduates of Western Carolina University's master's program in Public Administration and Social Service Professions earn a median $50,474 one year after graduating, rising to $72,585 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 3% below the national median of $65,401 for this field, ranking 128th of 180 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
6.3 yrs
≈ $7,028 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of North Carolina -Greensboro
$63,931 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
$63,908 · 5 yrs out
Dominican University
$63,662 · 5 yrs out
Utah State University
$63,538 · 5 yrs out
Colorado State University
$63,429 · 5 yrs out
Loyola University Chicago
$63,394 · 5 yrs out
University of Toledo
$63,201 · 5 yrs out
Aurora University
$62,952 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$62,876 · 5 yrs out
Valdosta State University
$62,873 · 5 yrs out
Augusta University
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
University of Southern Indiana
$62,818 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Western Carolina University

Education (Doctorate)
$96,791 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$95,724 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$88,779 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$88,474 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$86,622 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$86,297 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$86,297 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$86,216 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$85,927 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$85,430 · 5 yrs out
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctorate)
$84,494 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$81,907 · 5 yrs out

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