Public Policy Analysis at St. Mary's College of Maryland

St. Mary's City, MD · Public · Bachelor's Degree
52 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
53
Optimistic
52
Base Case
49
Pessimistic
Earnings $43,629/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (107,800 openings/yr)
ROI 9.8x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #11 of 40 Public Policy Analysis programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $606K $597K $539K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.9x 9.8x 8.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.8x 4.8x 4.3x
Probability of Field Employment 54% 50% 36%
DegreeOutlook Score 53 52 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)
$60,944
Out-of-state: $125,248 (4.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,448
-21% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,750
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$64,347
47% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $43,629 track close to the $46,424 national median for Public Policy Analysis programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.8x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Public Policy Analysis's typical career paths, with 49% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 11% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,750 represents roughly 6 months of the $43,629 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #11 of 40 Public Policy Analysis programs, St. Mary's College of Maryland scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $43,629 to $64,347 over five years — a 47% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About St. Mary's College of Maryland

St. Mary's College of Maryland has a 75% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a smaller institution with 1,566 students in St. Mary's City, MD.

See all programs and financial aid at St. Mary's College of Maryland →

Top Career Paths

Political scientists $139,380/yr
Medical and health services managers $117,960/yr
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr
View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Public Policy Analysis at Other Schools

Other Majors at St. Mary's College of Maryland

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Policy Analysis at St. Mary's College of Maryland?
A score of 52/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Public Policy Analysis field.
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 $538,614 in decade earnings vs $606,274 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →