Bachelor's+5% vs national median835 grads tracked
Public Administration and Social Service Professions at University of Wisconsin - Madison
Ranked 74th of 247 bachelor's programs in Public Administration and Social Service Professions by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$32,496
middle 50%: $24,209 – $41,416
Median · 5 years out
$56,003
middle 50%: $43,345 – $67,984
Median · 10 years out
$70,184
middle 50%: $54,138 – $89,376
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
Public Administration graduates earn $32,496 in their first year. Median pay reaches $56,003 after five years and $70,184 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
7.8 yrs
≈ $9,523 total interest
Same major at other universities
New York City College of Technology of the City University of New York
$56,212 · 5 yrs out
Miami University
$56,116 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at El Paso
$56,077 · 5 yrs out
University of Saint Thomas
$56,017 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan State University
$56,013 · 5 yrs out
Texas Woman's University
$56,005 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii - West Oahu
$55,948 · 5 yrs out
Fitchburg State University
$55,874 · 5 yrs out
Winona State University
$55,868 · 5 yrs out
University of Maine - Fort Kent
$55,746 · 5 yrs out
St. Cloud State University
$55,715 · 5 yrs out
Northern Illinois University
$55,665 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Wisconsin - Madison
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$227,440 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$191,060 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$179,858 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$176,530 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$153,901 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$153,036 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$143,232 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$140,310 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$139,926 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$134,767 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$133,218 · 5 yrs out
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's)
$127,595 · 5 yrs out