Public Policy Analysis at William & Mary

The small sample size here demands caution, but the trajectory tells an interesting story: William & Mary public policy graduates start well below the national median at $36,703, then see strong 45% earnings growth to reach $53,258 by year four—ultimately surpassing the national median. That first-year figure landing at just the 22nd percentile nationally is sobering for a highly selective institution (33% admission rate, 1458 SAT average), though it's closer to typical within Virginia's limited pool of four programs offering this degree.

The $22,000 debt load is exactly average both nationally and in-state, making this fundamentally a story about whether the earnings pattern justifies the credential. Starting $8,000 below the national median matters if your child needs immediate earning power after graduation—perhaps they're covering living expenses or starting loan payments right away. But the year-four earnings climbing above both state and national medians suggests the William & Mary brand and network eventually deliver value, likely through career advancement or graduate school positioning.

Given the tiny sample, a single graduate's career path could dramatically skew these numbers. If your child is considering this program, focus on whether they can weather that modest first-year salary and whether their career goals align with the typical policy career arc—where experience and credentials compound over time. For families needing stronger immediate returns, this may not be the path.