Compare 97 Public Finance. programs in the Northeast. Average earnings: $71,669.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Public Finance tells a different story. Across 97 programs, earnings range from $83,063 to $206,646—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
The data puts University of Pennsylvania first, with Public Finance graduates earning $206,646—nearly triple the $71,669 average. But the regional story matters too: Fordham University ($112,777) and Boston College ($110,242) prove that strong outcomes aren't limited to the most obvious choices.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Pennsylvania graduates borrow $15,715 and face just a 1.2% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.08, graduates can clear their student loans with minimal budget impact.
| 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 | Fordham UniversityPrivate | $112,777 | 180 | $24,300 | Excellent | $37,095 | Good |
| #3 | Boston CollegePrivate | $110,242 | 344 | $19,000 | Excellent | $45,000 | Good |
| #4 | Villanova UniversityPrivate | $110,166 | 276 | $25,874 | Excellent | $40,000 | Good |
| #5 | Lehigh UniversityPrivate | $107,260 | 221 | $21,960 | Excellent | $42,245 | Good |
| #6 | Fairfield UniversityPrivate | $98,540 | 168 | $26,000 | Excellent | $50,500 | Manageable |
| #7 | Binghamton UniversityPublic | $94,174 | 103 | $18,500 | Excellent | $27,270 | Good |
| #8 | Bentley UniversityPrivate | $92,531 | 243 | $25,023 | Excellent | $43,757 | Manageable |
| #9 | Muhlenberg CollegePrivate | $91,304 | 63 | $25,455 | Excellent | $48,779 | Manageable |
| #10 | Syracuse UniversityPrivate | $91,086 | 231 | $26,000 | Excellent | $39,841 | Manageable |
| #11 | $90,308 | 705 | $25,000 | Excellent | $38,368 | Manageable | |
| #12 | Stonehill CollegePrivate | $90,245 | 52 | $25,000 | Excellent | $58,576 | Challenging |
| #13 | Saint Anselm CollegePrivate | $87,973 | 46 | $27,000 | Excellent | $59,736 | Challenging |
| #14 | $87,592 | 224 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,324 | Manageable | |
| #15 | $86,145 | 45 | $26,778 | Excellent | $35,625 | Manageable | |
| #16 | $86,111 | 354 | $21,500 | Excellent | $25,294 | Good | |
| #17 | Saint Joseph's UniversityPrivate | $85,648 | 153 | $25,500 | Excellent | $42,436 | Manageable |
| #18 | Quinnipiac UniversityPrivate | $84,583 | 111 | $26,000 | Excellent | $64,334 | Challenging |
| #19 | $83,610 | 225 | $22,763 | Excellent | $26,243 | Good | |
| #20 | Providence CollegePrivate | $83,063 | 184 | $27,000 | Excellent | $46,300 | Challenging |
| #21 | Manhattan CollegePrivate | $82,252 | 53 | $26,000 | Excellent | $56,630 | Challenging |
| #22 | Bryant UniversityPrivate | $81,995 | 182 | $26,849 | Excellent | $55,956 | Challenging |
| #23 | University Of ScrantonPrivate | $81,990 | 41 | $27,000 | Excellent | $41,370 | Manageable |
| #24 | Pace UniversityPrivate | $81,127 | 125 | $23,250 | Excellent | $46,275 | Manageable |
| #25 | Siena CollegePrivate | $79,779 | 63 | $26,561 | Excellent | $40,800 | Manageable |
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 →
