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Public Administration at Grand Valley State University

Allendale, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,236/yr (-27% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 8.8x earnings multiple (6.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #44 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	$518K	$516K	$481K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	8.9x	8.8x	8.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.2x	6.2x	5.8x
Probability of Field Employment	54%	49%	37%
DegreeOutlook Score	50	49	49

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$58,512

Out-of-state: $83,280 (6.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$68,384

-17% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,000

8.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$50,338

39% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $36,236 place Grand Valley State University below the $49,353 national median for Public Administration — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

At 8.8x 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 $25,000 debt-to-$36,236 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #44 out of 45 programs, Grand Valley State University's financial outcomes for Public Administration trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $36,236 to $50,338 shows 39% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley State University accepts 95% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 19,073 in Allendale, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Grand Valley State 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

Public Administration at Other Schools

Other Majors at Grand Valley State University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Grand Valley State University's Public Administration program score?

This program scores 49/100 — on the lower end for Public Administration. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

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.

Why are Public Administration earnings lower at Grand Valley State University?

Lower starting pay at Grand Valley State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

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