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Public Administration at Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
57 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
58
Optimistic
57
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $46,301/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (528,800 openings/yr)
ROI 9.0x earnings multiple
Ranked #38 of 45 Public Administration programs

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 $513K $511K $478K
Earnings Multiple 9.0x 9.0x 8.4x
Probability of Field Employment 54% 49% 37%
DegreeOutlook Score 58 57 53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$56,760
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$64,164
-13% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
7.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Central Michigan University's Public Administration program produces graduates earning $46,301/yr — within striking distance of the $49,353 national average for this field.

At 9.0x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt-to-$46,301 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #38 out of 45 programs, Central Michigan University's financial outcomes for Public Administration trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Central Michigan University

A 91% acceptance rate means Central Michigan University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 9,916 students in Mount Pleasant, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Central Michigan University →

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

Compare this program → View all 45 schools offering Public Administration →

Public Administration at Other Schools

Barry University ($103,107) National University ($77,077) California State University-Northridge ($76,049) University of Maryland Global Campus ($74,053) Southern New Hampshire University ($73,129) California Baptist University ($68,682) Ashford University ($65,503) University of Phoenix-Arizona ($61,790)

Other Majors at Central Michigan University

Computer Science ($74,135) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($71,457) Mechanical Engineering ($69,862) Management Information Systems and Services ($68,088) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($66,149) Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians ($64,284) Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($63,862) Accounting and Related Services ($62,430)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Public Administration trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Central Michigan University's Public Administration program score?
A score of 57/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Central Michigan University trails the majority of Public Administration programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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 →