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Public Administration · Public Policy Analysis Rank #19 of 40

Public Policy Analysisat Dickinson College

Graduates earn $61,592/yr in their first year — about 33.0% above the national Public Policy Analysis average. Base-case 10-year earnings $599K; scenarios range from $540K to $608K depending on AI disruption.

Carlisle, PA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
45 AVERAGE
46
Optimistic
40
Pessimistic
Earnings
$61,592
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.4x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$599K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Dickinson College

Dickinson’s Public Policy Analysis program consistently produces graduates with exceptionally strong earnings outcomes. This isn't simply a coincidence; as a rigorous liberal arts institution, Dickinson likely emphasizes critical thinking, sophisticated data analysis, and persuasive communication—skills highly valued across diverse policy roles. Its strategic location near Harrisburg, the state capital, and relatively easy access to the D.C. corridor, provides unique access to internships and entry-level positions in state and federal government, think tanks, and policy-focused consulting firms. The interdisciplinary curriculum likely cultivates robust research and quantitative abilities, preparing you for complex roles in areas like healthcare administration, where policy expertise is crucial for navigating regulatory landscapes. To maximize this advantage, actively seek out internships in these sectors early on, leveraging the college's alumni network and career services.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$540K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score40/100
Earnings Multiple2.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$599K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score45/100
Earnings Multiple2.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$608K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score46/100
Earnings Multiple2.4x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Dickinson College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Public Policy Analysis graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Political scientists
-3.1% 10-yr growth · 500 openings/yr
$139,380/yr
Moderate
2
Medical and health services managers
+23.2% 10-yr growth · 62,100 openings/yr
$117,960/yr
Moderate
3
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
+17.3% 10-yr growth · 27,400 openings/yr
$105,620/yr
Moderate
4
Social scientists and related workers, all other
-1.7% 10-yr growth · 3,200 openings/yr
$100,340/yr
High
5
Political science teachers, postsecondary
+2.0% 10-yr growth · 1,600 openings/yr
$94,680/yr
Moderate
6
Education teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 5,600 openings/yr
$72,090/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Public Policy Analysis

How Dickinson College stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Cornell University
NY · Private nonprofit
60
DW Score
$78K
1-yr earn
3.1x
ROI
Princeton University
NJ · Private nonprofit
59
DW Score
$74K
1-yr earn
3.1x
ROI
Duke University
NC · Private nonprofit
59
DW Score
$61K
1-yr earn
3.3x
ROI
University of Chicago
IL · Private nonprofit
56
DW Score
$60K
1-yr earn
2.7x
ROI
Brown University
RI · Private nonprofit
44
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
1.1x
ROI
Also at Dickinson College

Other top programs at Dickinson College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Dickinson College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Public Policy Analysis at Dickinson College

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Policy Analysis at Dickinson College?

A score of 45/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Public Policy Analysis. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Public Policy Analysis careers?

With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $540,040 in decade earnings vs $608,437 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.