Public Administration at American University
Washington, DC · Master's Degree · about 220 graduates a year
American University graduates in public administration earn 33% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 51% of one year’s pay at that point.
How American University Compares for Public Administration
All 243 colleges reporting public administration earnings at this degree level, ranked by median pay four years after graduation. “Wage-adjusted” divides pay by the square root of the state’s wage index so colleges in low-wage states aren’t penalized for local pay.
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | Adj. rank | 1 yr after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA | $177,149 | $155,998 | #1 | $133,307 |
| 2 | Anna Maria College Paxton, MA | $123,207 | $108,497 | #5 | $110,456 |
| 3 | Golden Gate University San Francisco, CA | $122,598 | $111,556 | #3 | $91,136 |
| 4 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | $122,517 | $107,523 | #6 | $83,974 |
| 5 | Calumet College of Saint Joseph Whiting, IN | $121,754 | $130,620 | #2 | $111,396 |
| 6 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | $115,874 | $110,288 | #4 | $89,478 |
| 7 | George Washington University Washington, DC | $113,891 | $99,798 | #13 | $78,177 |
| 8 | New York University New York, NY | $109,946 | $104,646 | #8 | $82,887 |
| 9 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA | $108,093 | $98,358 | #14 | $85,122 |
| 10 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NY | $107,868 | $102,668 | #9 | $82,788 |
| 11 | American University Washington, DC | $107,866 | $94,519 | #19 | $78,068 |
| 12 | Boston University Boston, MA | $106,292 | $93,601 | #22 | $82,601 |
| 13 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | $104,073 | $105,843 | #7 | $83,208 |
| 14 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | $103,721 | $94,379 | #20 | $78,453 |
Other Majors at American University by Graduate Pay
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do American University public administration graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $78,068 one year after graduating and $107,866 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does American University rank for public administration?
Among 243 colleges reporting earnings for public administration graduates, American University ranks #11 by median pay four years after graduation, and #19 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is public administration at American University worth it?
Its graduates earn 33% more than the national median for public administration ($81,408), and the median federal debt at graduation is $55,000.
← All data for American University · Methodology
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled; programs with few graduates are not reported. Wage adjustment uses Census ACS state median household income.