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
Master's degree graduates in public administration earn $50k in year one. The ten-year median salary is $73k.
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