Public Administration at Kean University

Union, NJ · Public · Bachelor's Degree
61 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
62
Optimistic
61
Base Case
58
Pessimistic
Earnings $45,850/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (528,800 openings/yr)
ROI 9.9x earnings multiple (6.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #29 of 45 Public Administration programs

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 $535K $531K $493K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.0x 9.9x 9.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.3x 6.3x 5.8x
Probability of Field Employment 54% 49% 37%
DegreeOutlook Score 62 61 58

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$53,704
Out-of-state: $84,304 (6.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$48,672
9% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,307
6.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,299
21% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Kean University's Public Administration program produces graduates earning $45,850/yr — within striking distance of the $49,353 national average for this field.

At 9.9x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $26,307 debt-to-$45,850 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #29 out of 45 programs, Kean University's financial outcomes for Public Administration trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $45,850 to $55,299 shows 21% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Kean University

A 77% acceptance rate means Kean University is accessible to most applicants, serving 10,842 students in Union, NJ. With 46% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Kean 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 Kean 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

How does Kean University's Public Administration program score?
A score of 61/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Kean University trails the majority of Public Administration programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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 →