Public Administration at Flagler College

Flagler College's Public Administration program produces an unusual earnings pattern that deserves careful scrutiny. Graduates start strong at $61,613—ranking in the 80th percentile among Florida's 12 public administration programs—but see their income drop to $45,251 by year four. This represents a 27% decline at a career stage when most professionals are seeing raises and promotions. The first-year salary exceeds even Barry University's median ($103,107 seems to be an outlier in the state data), suggesting graduates may be landing positions that either don't require bachelor's degrees or have limited advancement potential.

The debt load of $21,485 is reasonable relative to that initial salary, creating a manageable 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio. However, evaluate that burden against the four-year earnings figure instead—the drop transforms what looks like a comfortable repayment scenario into something more precarious. Among Florida programs where most graduates stay in-state, this decline is particularly concerning since the state's median for public administration holds steady at $46,047.

The moderate sample size means this pattern could reflect specific employers or graduation years rather than program design, but parents should investigate what's driving the income trajectory before committing. Understanding whether graduates are working in government roles with compressed salary scales or pivoting to different career paths would clarify whether this program builds skills for sustained career growth or primarily serves as a stepping stone to something else.