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Public Administration at James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $48,396/yr (-2% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (528,800 openings/yr)

ROI 11.4x earnings multiple (5.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #15 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	$634K	$620K	$559K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.7x	11.4x	10.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.1x	5.0x	4.5x
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)

$54,304

Out-of-state: $123,160 (5.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$87,264

-61% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,250

4.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$69,552

44% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

James Madison University's Public Administration program produces graduates earning $48,396/yr — within striking distance of the $49,353 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Public Administration programs nationally.

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 — $18,250 in median debt clears quickly against $48,396 in annual earnings.

At #15 of 45 Public Administration programs, James Madison University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $48,396 to $69,552 over five years — a 44% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About James Madison University

A 76% acceptance rate means James Madison University is accessible to most applicants, with 20,497 students enrolled in Harrisonburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at James Madison 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 James Madison University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Administration at James Madison University?

A score of 69/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Public Administration field.

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 $559,333 in decade earnings vs $633,751 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →