Public Administration at Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
57 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
58
Optimistic
57
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $53,912/yr (9% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (528,800 openings/yr)
ROI 2.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #39 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 $657K $641K $575K
Earnings Multiple 2.6x 2.5x 2.3x
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)
$252,244
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$164,104
35% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,000
5.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$74,419
38% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Syracuse University's Public Administration graduates start at $53,912/yr — above the $49,353 national average, though not by a wide margin.

An earnings multiple of 2.5x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $26,000 in median debt clears quickly against $53,912 in annual earnings.

At #39 out of 45 programs, Syracuse 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 $53,912 to $74,419 shows 38% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University's 42% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with a mid-sized student body of 15,245 in Syracuse, NY. After financial aid, the average student pays $164,104 over four years — 35% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Syracuse 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 Syracuse University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Syracuse University's Public Administration program score?
A score of 57/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Syracuse 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 →