Public Administration at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Whitewater, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
69 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
70
Optimistic
69
Base Case
66
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,951/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (528,800 openings/yr)
ROI 16.9x earnings multiple (7.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #16 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 $566K $559K $513K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.1x 16.9x 15.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.9x 7.8x 7.2x
Probability of Field Employment 54% 49% 37%
DegreeOutlook Score 70 69 66

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$33,000
Out-of-state: $71,664 (7.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,140
-79% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,829
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,361
32% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $44,951/yr, Public Administration graduates from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater land near the $49,353 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 16.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,829 debt-to-$44,951 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #16 out of 45 programs, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Public Administration offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $44,951 to $59,361 shows 32% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

With 83% of applicants admitted, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater prioritizes broad access, enrolling 9,180 students in Whitewater, WI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater →

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

How does University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Public Administration program score?
This program scores 69/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Public Administration graduates.
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 →