Compare 425 Public Finance. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $66,230. Top programs: $206,646+.
With top graduates earning $207K, Public Finance stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $140K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
University of Pennsylvania's Public Finance program leads with graduates earning $207K, followed by Washington University in St. Louis at $153K. The average across all 425 programs is $66K, yet this variation tracks program quality rather than overall school reputation—demonstrating why field-specific rankings matter.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Pennsylvania graduates borrow $16K and face just a 1.2% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, making strong outcomes genuinely affordable.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | $206,646 | 390 | $15,715 | Excellent | $33,124 | Excellent |
| #2 | $152,625 | 160 | $17,500 | Excellent | $24,585 | Excellent | |
| #3 | Georgetown UniversityPrivate | $126,672 | 202 | $15,500 | Excellent | $33,944 | Excellent |
| #4 | $113,839 | 287 | $19,500 | Excellent | $40,025 | Good | |
| #5 | Wake Forest UniversityPrivate | $113,398 | 108 | $21,500 | Excellent | $30,000 | Good |
| #6 | Fordham UniversityPrivate | $112,777 | 180 | $24,300 | Excellent | $37,095 | Good |
| #7 | University Of Notre DamePrivate | $111,893 | 235 | $19,000 | Excellent | $40,731 | Good |
| #8 | Boston CollegePrivate | $110,242 | 344 | $19,000 | Excellent | $45,000 | Good |
| #9 | Villanova UniversityPrivate | $110,166 | 276 | $25,874 | Excellent | $40,000 | Good |
| #10 | Lehigh UniversityPrivate | $107,260 | 221 | $21,960 | Excellent | $42,245 | Good |
| #11 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | $106,444 | 149 | $19,162 | Excellent | $56,271 | Manageable |
| #12 | George Washington UniversityPrivate | $101,012 | 153 | $20,449 | Excellent | $30,881 | Good |
| #13 | $99,685 | 256 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Good | |
| #14 | University Of San FranciscoPrivate | $98,950 | 111 | $23,000 | Excellent | $44,413 | Manageable |
| #15 | Fairfield UniversityPrivate | $98,540 | 168 | $26,000 | Excellent | $50,500 | Manageable |
| #16 | Brigham Young UniversityPrivate | $96,161 | 180 | $11,069 | Excellent | $9,699 | Excellent |
| #17 | $95,994 | 411 | $20,500 | Excellent | $26,632 | Good | |
| #18 | $95,162 | 379 | $19,000 | Excellent | $35,200 | Good | |
| #19 | James Madison UniversityPublic | $94,451 | 163 | $20,093 | Excellent | $37,285 | Manageable |
| #20 | $94,385 | 299 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Good | |
| #21 | Binghamton UniversityPublic | $94,174 | 103 | $18,500 | Excellent | $27,270 | Good |
| #22 | Bentley UniversityPrivate | $92,531 | 243 | $25,023 | Excellent | $43,757 | Manageable |
| #23 | Muhlenberg CollegePrivate | $91,304 | 63 | $25,455 | Excellent | $48,779 | Manageable |
| #24 | Syracuse UniversityPrivate | $91,086 | 231 | $26,000 | Excellent | $39,841 | Manageable |
| #25 | $90,976 | 285 | $17,804 | Excellent | $32,258 | Good |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
