Public Administration
Master's degree · Northwestern University · Evanston, IL
$73,260Median earnings 1 year after graduating
$98,798Median earnings 4 years after
$106,467Median earnings 5 years after
$44,568Median federal debt
97Graduates per year
How this program compares
Graduates of the master's degree program in Public Administration at Northwestern University earn a median of $73,260 one year after completing the program. Nationally, master's degree graduates in this field earn a median of $81,408 four years after graduating (middle half: $60,052–$109,056). Median debt is $44,568, about 61% of first-year earnings.
Public Administration (Master's degree) at other Illinois schools
| College | Earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|
| DePaul University Chicago | $65,378 | $46,243 |
| Northern Illinois University Dekalb | $62,849 | $30,500 |
| University of Illinois Springfield Springfield | $61,014 | $31,525 |
| University of Illinois Chicago Chicago | $59,815 | $41,000 |
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville | $51,703 | $33,859 |
| Aurora University Aurora | $42,605 | — |
Other programs at Northwestern University
- Business Administration, Management and OperationsMaster's degree
$224,402 - LawFirst professional degree
$210,979 - Business/Commerce, GeneralMaster's degree
$188,890 - Engineering, OtherMaster's degree
$162,147 - Engineering-Related FieldsMaster's degree
$144,879 - Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsMaster's degree
$140,444 - Information Science/StudiesMaster's degree
$131,093 - Community Organization and AdvocacyMaster's degree
$130,419 - Legal Research and Advanced Professional StudiesFirst professional degree
$129,670 - Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical StudiesMaster's degree
$124,451 - Medical Illustration and InformaticsMaster's degree
$112,816 - Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsMaster's degree
$107,097 - Information Science/StudiesBachelor's degree
$102,998 - Computer ScienceBachelor's degree
$99,981 - Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, GeneralMaster's degree
$99,283 - Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, OtherMaster's degree
$96,837 - Applied MathematicsBachelor's degree
$94,684 - Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/TechniciansMaster's degree
$93,115 - ChemistryDoctoral degree
$90,302 - Industrial EngineeringBachelor's degree
$89,811
Frequently asked questions
How much do Public Administration graduates from Northwestern University make?
The median salary is $73,260 one year after graduation and $106,467 after five years.
How much student debt do graduates have?
Graduates who borrowed federal loans owe a median of $44,568.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release (Field of Study data). Earnings are for graduates who received federal financial aid.