Public Administration at Upper Iowa University

Fayette, IA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
71 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
72
Optimistic
71
Base Case
67
Pessimistic
Earnings $61,104/yr (24% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (528,800 openings/yr)
ROI 8.4x earnings multiple
Ranked #12 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 $654K $638K $573K
Earnings Multiple 8.6x 8.4x 7.5x
Probability of Field Employment 54% 49% 37%
DegreeOutlook Score 72 71 67

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$76,000
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$92,688
-22% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
4.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$75,905
24% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Upper Iowa University's Public Administration graduates start at $61,104/yr — above the $49,353 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.4x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 12% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $25,000 in median debt clears quickly against $61,104 in annual earnings.

At #12 of 45 Public Administration programs, Upper Iowa University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $61,104 to $75,905 over five years — a 24% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Upper Iowa University

A 93% acceptance rate means Upper Iowa University is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 2,021 students in Fayette, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at Upper Iowa 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Administration at Upper Iowa University?
This program scores 71/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Public Administration nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
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 $572,767 in decade earnings vs $653,661 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →