Public Administration graduates from Walden University earn $100,861 median salary — below the national average for this program. Median debt: $138,500.
Public Administration at Walden University
Minneapolis, Minnesota • Doctoral
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Public Administration at Walden University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Walden University and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Public Administration at the doctoral credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 155 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Walden University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $100,861 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $111,914 across all institutions offering Public Administration, graduates here earn below the national average for this program. Across all programs at Walden University, the mean median-earnings figure is $73,019, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Public Administration graduates at Walden University is $138,500, which translates to roughly $1,154 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.37 is above the 1.0 threshold, meaning cumulative debt exceeds first-year post-completion earnings. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Public Administration at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Capella University | $122,967 | $116,756 |
| Walden University (this school) | $100,861 | $138,500 |
Other Programs at Walden University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $132,421 | $94,982 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $125,626 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $122,823 | $53,686 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $113,723 | $136,439 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $109,874 | — |
| Public Health | $108,951 | $129,841 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $106,892 | $20,341 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $105,432 | $115,920 |
| Public Administration (current) | $100,861 | $138,500 |
| Social Work | $99,933 | $102,480 |
Other Schools with Public Administration
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About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.