WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-2% vs national median590 grads tracked

Public Administration at James Madison University

Ranked 14th of 44 bachelor's programs in Public Administration by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$44,398
middle 50%: $32,235 – $57,747
Median · 5 years out
$70,217
middle 50%: $54,194 – $92,478
Median · 10 years out
$91,663
middle 50%: $63,769 – $123,689

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Public Administration (bachelor's) graduates.

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

Graduates of James Madison University's bachelor's program in Public Administration earn a median $44,398 one year after graduating, rising to $91,663 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 2% below the national median of $71,321 for this field, ranking 14th of 44 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
6.2 yrs
≈ $7,171 total interest

Same major at other universities

Indiana University - Bloomington
$73,171 · 5 yrs out
University of Oklahoma
$72,585 · 5 yrs out
University of North Texas
$72,361 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College
$71,321 · 5 yrs out
St. Cloud State University
$70,527 · 5 yrs out
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
$70,237 · 5 yrs out
Miami University
$69,376 · 5 yrs out
Iowa State University of Science & Technology
$68,968 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$66,184 · 5 yrs out
University of Arizona (The)
$65,541 · 5 yrs out
Winona State University
$65,194 · 5 yrs out
Shenandoah University
$64,402 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at James Madison University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$149,041 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$113,393 · 5 yrs out
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's)
$109,323 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$108,391 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$107,900 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$105,157 · 5 yrs out
Systems Science and Theory (Bachelor's)
$101,995 · 5 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's)
$101,563 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)
$97,528 · 5 yrs out
Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's)
$97,305 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$94,450 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$94,450 · 5 yrs out

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