WhatGradsMake
Doctoral (Research)-14% vs national median54 grads tracked

Public Administration and Social Service Professions at University of South Carolina - Columbia

Ranked 31st of 33 doctoral (research) programs in Public Administration and Social Service Professions by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$76,644
middle 50%: $50,311 – $85,898
Median · 5 years out
$86,568
middle 50%: $76,224 – $103,276
Median · 10 years out
$103,837
middle 50%: $75,444 – $124,951

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 South Carolina - Columbia's doctoral (research) program in Public Administration and Social Service Professions earn a median $76,644 one year after graduating, rising to $103,837 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 14% below the national median of $100,394 for this field, ranking 31st 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
4.3 yrs
≈ $4,539 total interest

Same major at other universities

Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
$93,789 · 5 yrs out
Loyola University Chicago
$92,521 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Charlotte
$91,460 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Buffalo
$90,301 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
$87,772 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$86,717 · 5 yrs out
Southern University and Agricultural & Mechanical Colg at Baton Rouge
$86,367 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$85,430 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of South Carolina - Columbia

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$176,841 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$168,157 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$153,126 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$150,876 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$129,928 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$122,810 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,242 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$114,563 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$102,325 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$100,689 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$100,245 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$99,491 · 5 yrs out

Related fields of study

Community Organization and Advocacy
Compare universities
Human Services, General
Compare universities
Public Administration
Compare universities
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other
Compare universities
Public Policy Analysis
Compare universities
Social Work
Compare universities