Bachelor's-12% vs national median389 grads tracked
Public Administration and Social Service Professions at Columbia College
Ranked 193rd of 247 bachelor's programs in Public Administration and Social Service Professions by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$35,791
middle 50%: $27,494 – $45,525
Median · 5 years out
$47,181
middle 50%: $38,113 – $60,566
Median · 10 years out
$54,910
middle 50%: $44,398 – $67,821
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Public Administration and Social Service Professions (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Columbia College graduates in Public Administration earn a median of $36k in their first year. Salaries reach $55k after ten years.
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
8.8 yrs
≈ $10,318 total interest
Same major at other universities
Virginia Union University
$47,460 · 5 yrs out
Kennesaw State University
$47,417 · 5 yrs out
Ferrum College
$47,392 · 5 yrs out
Liberty University
$47,392 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Wesleyan University
$47,315 · 5 yrs out
University of Southern Maine
$47,306 · 5 yrs out
Winthrop University
$46,832 · 5 yrs out
Western Illinois University
$46,793 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
$46,574 · 5 yrs out
Montana State University - Northern
$46,532 · 5 yrs out
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
$46,532 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - South Bend
$46,511 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Columbia College
Homeland Security (Bachelor's)
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Master's)
$70,298 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Bachelor's)
$67,317 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's)
$65,609 · 5 yrs out
Education (Master's)
$64,129 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other (Bachelor's)
$63,170 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$58,858 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)
$55,665 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Bachelor's)
$54,615 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's)
$53,873 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other (Bachelor's)
$53,647 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Bachelor's)
$52,969 · 5 yrs out