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Public Administration at California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $76,049/yr (54% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (528,800 openings/yr)

ROI 23.9x earnings multiple (8.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #3 of 45 Public Administration programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Public Administration graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$698K	$679K	$603K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	24.6x	23.9x	21.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	9.2x	8.9x	7.9x
Probability of Field Employment	54%	49%	37%
DegreeOutlook Score	74	74	71

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$28,380

Out-of-state: $75,900 (8.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$30,396

-7% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$36,442

5.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

California State University-Northridge Public Administration graduates command $76,049/yr out of the gate, well above the $49,353 national median. That 54% premium suggests the program's reputation carries real labor-market weight.

The 23.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $36,442 in median debt clears quickly against $76,049 in annual earnings.

A #3 ranking out of 45 Public Administration programs nationally puts California State University-Northridge in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

About California State University-Northridge

A 93% acceptance rate means California State University-Northridge is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 32,357 in Northridge, CA. With 56% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Northridge →

Top Career Paths

Chief executives $206,420/yr

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Construction managers $106,980/yr

View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Public Administration at Other Schools

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Northridge's Public Administration program score?

A score of 74/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. California State University-Northridge's Public Administration graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Public Administration to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Public Administration careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →