Public Administration and Social Service Professions at Jacksonville State University

Jacksonville State's Public Administration program starts graduates at nearly $45,000—above the national median and significantly higher than Alabama's typical $38,000 for this field. While the $31,000 debt load is above state and national norms for this major, the strong trajectory matters here: by year four, median earnings jump 40% to nearly $63,000. That puts graduates in a substantially better position than Troy University's program, which starts at just $31,000.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 is manageable, especially given that upward arc. For public service careers that often emphasize stability and benefits over explosive salary growth, this kind of steady progression is exactly what you want to see. Ranking in the 75th percentile nationally means this program outperforms three-quarters of similar programs across the country, while the 60th percentile in Alabama suggests solid regional standing—though with only two programs statewide, that comparison has limits.

The main consideration is whether your child is committed to public service work. This isn't a path to six figures, but it's a clear route to middle-class stability with reasonable debt. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) means these numbers are based on enough real outcomes to be meaningful, and the consistent earnings growth suggests employers value these graduates.