Master's0% vs national median2,541 grads tracked
Public Administration and Social Service Professions at University of Wisconsin - Madison
Ranked 109th of 180 master's programs in Public Administration and Social Service Professions by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$54,599
middle 50%: $44,501 – $65,581
Median · 5 years out
$65,390
middle 50%: $52,845 – $79,956
Median · 10 years out
$76,093
middle 50%: $58,427 – $95,897
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Public Administration and Social Service Professions (master's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
UW-Madison's Public Administration master's graduates earn $55k in their first year. Ten-year median earnings reach $76k.
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 yrs
≈ $6,558 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of North Carolina - Charlotte
$65,896 · 5 yrs out
Bowling Green State University
$65,534 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Commerce
$65,515 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan State University of Denver
$65,458 · 5 yrs out
Kennesaw State University
$65,401 · 5 yrs out
Cleveland State University
$65,391 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$65,322 · 5 yrs out
University of Iowa
$65,293 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$65,081 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Commonwealth University
$64,963 · 5 yrs out
Norfolk State University
$64,784 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$64,742 · 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