Public Policy Analysis at Rockhurst University

A debt load of $18,375 for a bachelor's in public policy is manageable by most standards, especially when peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $44,740. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 means graduates would owe less than half their first-year salary—well below the threshold where loan payments typically become burdensome. With only three schools in Missouri offering this major, Rockhurst provides access to a specialized field without the debt levels that often accompany private universities.

The caveat here is real: these figures come from national medians of comparable programs, not Rockhurst's actual outcomes for this specific degree. Public policy graduates' trajectories can vary significantly based on whether they land in nonprofit work, government positions, or consulting roles. The national benchmark puts this program right at the median, neither particularly lucrative nor poorly compensated for entry-level work in the field.

For parents evaluating this investment, the moderate debt estimate combined with Rockhurst's solid admissions profile (SAT scores above 1200) suggests reasonable value if your child is committed to policy work. The real question is whether they're prepared for a career path where advancement often requires a master's degree. If graduate school is likely, keeping undergraduate debt this low becomes even more important—and these estimates suggest Rockhurst delivers on that front.