Public Policy Analysis
Public Administration & Social Service
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | $67,664 | $58,527 to $76,373 | 36 | 97% |
| Master's Degree | $84,234 | $75,234 to $97,422 | 51 | 100% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +3% (2025 to 2035), about 102,000 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $123,860 | +24.2% | 62,300 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $107,310 | +17.9% | 24,900 |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $75,350 | +2.5% | 5,300 |
| Social Science Research Assistants | $61,990 | +5% | 4,900 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $101,110 | -0.2% | 2,700 |
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,070 | +2.5% | 1,500 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Where this is studied
The 8 colleges where the most students complete a public policy analysis program, of 193 that report one. Ordered by number of completions only: this is where people study it, not a judgement about where to.
- Duke University
- University of Southern California
- Harvard University
- University of Maryland-College Park
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- Princeton University
- University of California-Los Angeles
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.