WhatGradsMake
Doctoral (Research)-7% vs national median106 grads tracked

Public Administration and Social Service Professions at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Ranked 25th of 33 doctoral (research) programs in Public Administration and Social Service Professions by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$94,869
middle 50%: $69,841 – $137,306
Median · 5 years out
$93,789
middle 50%: $77,587 – $134,060
Median · 10 years out
$132,649
middle 50%: $99,192 – $207,305

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 Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University's doctoral (research) program in Public Administration and Social Service Professions earn a median $94,869 one year after graduating, rising to $132,649 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 7% below the national median of $100,394 for this field, ranking 25th 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
3.6 yrs
≈ $3,684 total interest

Same major at other universities

Georgia Institute of Technology
$97,992 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Chicago
$96,791 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$96,524 · 5 yrs out
Portland State University
$96,310 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$95,590 · 5 yrs out
Valdosta State University
$94,122 · 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
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$86,568 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$160,426 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$155,674 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$148,193 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$132,072 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$130,533 · 5 yrs out
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's)
$129,123 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$125,251 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$125,251 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$121,443 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$119,838 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$116,512 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$109,749 · 5 yrs out

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