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Public Administration at Ashford University

San Diego, CA · Private for-profit · Bachelor's Degree
72 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
73
Optimistic
72
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $65,503/yr (33% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (528,800 openings/yr)
ROI 11.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #9 of 45 Public Administration programs Top 25%

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 $633K $619K $559K
Earnings Multiple 12.0x 11.8x 10.6x
Probability of Field Employment 54% 49% 37%
DegreeOutlook Score 73 72 69
4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$52,640
Median Debt at Graduation
$33,349
6.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$64,804
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Program Analysis

Ashford University Public Administration graduates command $65,503/yr out of the gate, well above the $49,353 national median. That 33% premium suggests the program's reputation carries real labor-market weight.

The 11.8x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $33,349 debt-to-$65,503 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #9 out of 45 programs, Ashford University's Public Administration program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

About Ashford University

with 23,734 students enrolled in San Diego, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at Ashford 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

Compare this program → View all 45 schools offering Public Administration →

Public Administration at Other Schools

Barry University ($103,107) National University ($77,077) California State University-Northridge ($76,049) University of Maryland Global Campus ($74,053) Southern New Hampshire University ($73,129) California Baptist University ($68,682) University of Phoenix-Arizona ($61,790) Flagler College ($61,613)

Other Majors at Ashford University

International Business ($71,369) Business/Managerial Economics ($66,360) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($61,466) Management Information Systems and Services ($61,359) Communication and Media Studies ($58,089) Finance and Financial Management Services ($57,566) Political Science and Government ($55,196) Marketing ($54,286)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Public Administration trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Ashford University's Public Administration program score?
A score of 72/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Ashford University's Public Administration graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
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.
Why does Ashford University rank so high for Public Administration?
The #9 ranking out of 45 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →