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Public Administration at University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $38,681/yr (-22% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 21.0x earnings multiple (5.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #25 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	$539K	$534K	$495K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	21.1x	21.0x	19.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.0x	5.9x	5.5x
Probability of Field Employment	54%	49%	37%
DegreeOutlook Score	64	63	62

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$25,472

Out-of-state: $89,868 (5.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$42,600

-67% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$16,875

5.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$53,850

39% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $38,681 per year, Public Administration graduates from University of Central Florida earn below the $49,353 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 21.0x 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 8% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $16,875 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #25 of 45 Public Administration programs, University of Central Florida falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $38,681 to $53,850 over five years — a 39% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Central Florida

A 40% acceptance rate puts University of Central Florida in competitive admissions territory, one of the larger campuses at 59,095 students in Orlando, FL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Central Florida →

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

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Explore the Trade Alternative

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Administration at University of Central Florida?

This program scores 63/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Public Administration programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

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 $495,116 in decade earnings vs $538,557 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Public Administration from University of Central Florida?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

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