Public Policy Analysis at American University
Washington, DC · Master's Degree · about 105 graduates a year
American University graduates in public policy analysis earn 6% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 56% of one year’s pay at that point.
How American University Compares for Public Policy Analysis
All 50 colleges reporting public policy analysis 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 | $129,978 | $114,459 | #2 | $87,444 |
| 2 | University of California-San Francisco San Francisco, CA | $124,169 | $112,986 | #4 | — |
| 3 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | $120,163 | $105,465 | #6 | $85,111 |
| 4 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL | $112,727 | $110,754 | #5 | $79,721 |
| 5 | Georgetown University Washington, DC | $110,634 | $96,944 | #9 | $83,403 |
| 6 | Duke University Durham, NC | $109,274 | $117,267 | #1 | $85,125 |
| 7 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | $107,692 | $94,512 | #10 | $97,034 |
| 8 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | $107,392 | $113,232 | #3 | $75,277 |
| 9 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA | $103,268 | $105,024 | #8 | $68,342 |
| 10 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | $100,925 | $91,835 | #12 | $66,078 |
| 11 | University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA | $99,110 | $90,249 | #13 | $71,078 |
| 12 | American University Washington, DC | $98,588 | $86,389 | #21 | $67,929 |
| 13 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA | $97,926 | $89,171 | #15 | $74,616 |
| 14 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CT | $96,919 | $87,258 | #16 | — |
| 15 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Waterbury, CT | $96,919 | $87,258 | #17 | — |
Other Majors at American University by Graduate Pay
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do American University public policy analysis graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $67,929 one year after graduating and $98,588 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does American University rank for public policy analysis?
Among 50 colleges reporting earnings for public policy analysis graduates, American University ranks #12 by median pay four years after graduation, and #21 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is public policy analysis at American University worth it?
Its graduates earn 6% more than the national median for public policy analysis ($93,020), and the median federal debt at graduation is $54,986.
← 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.