Public Policy Analysis at Duquesne University

Pennsylvania's public policy programs typically launch graduates into substantially higher earnings—the state median sits at $61,592, nearly $17,000 above what similar programs nationally suggest Duquesne students might expect. This gap matters when you're looking at nearly $18,400 in estimated debt, even though that figure sits below the national benchmark for this field.

The debt load itself is manageable—a 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio means roughly five months of pre-tax income to cover what's borrowed. But the earnings estimate of $44,740 places this program well below what peer institutions in Pennsylvania deliver. Dickinson College's public policy graduates, for instance, earn that $61,592 median, demonstrating what's achievable at other schools in the state. Whether Duquesne's outcomes align more closely with Pennsylvania norms or national ones makes a meaningful difference in how quickly your child builds financial stability after graduation.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With both earnings and debt figures estimated from broader peer groups rather than actual Duquesne outcomes, you're making a financial commitment based on incomplete information. Before enrolling, push the university for concrete placement data: where do their policy analysis graduates actually work, and what do they earn? If Duquesne's outcomes track closer to the Pennsylvania median, this becomes a different conversation entirely.