Public Administration at Indiana University-Indianapolis

Indianapolis, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
66 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
67
Optimistic
66
Base Case
63
Pessimistic
Earnings $43,110/yr (-13% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (528,800 openings/yr)
ROI 13.7x earnings multiple (4.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #18 of 45 Public Administration programs Top 50%

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 $582K $574K $525K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.9x 13.7x 12.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.3x 4.3x 3.9x
Probability of Field Employment 54% 49% 37%
DegreeOutlook Score 67 66 63

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$41,796
Out-of-state: $134,868 (4.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$45,632
-9% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,625
5.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,050
42% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $43,110/yr, Public Administration graduates from Indiana University-Indianapolis land near the $49,353 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Public Administration programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Public Administration's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $20,625 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #18 of 45 Public Administration programs, Indiana University-Indianapolis scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $43,110 to $61,050 over five years — a 42% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Indiana University-Indianapolis

With 81% of applicants admitted, Indiana University-Indianapolis prioritizes broad access, serving 16,582 students in Indianapolis, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Indiana University-Indianapolis →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Administration at Indiana University-Indianapolis?
A score of 66/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Public Administration field.
Will AI replace Public Administration careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $524,579 in decade earnings vs $582,234 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →