Compare 154 Public Finance. programs in the South. Average earnings: $63,209.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Public Finance tells a different story. Across 154 programs, earnings range from $83,279 to $126,672—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
Georgetown University's Public Finance program leads with graduates earning $126,672, well above the $63,209 average. But Southern Methodist University follows closely at $113,839 with a 61% acceptance rate, while Wake Forest delivers $113,398—proving that strong outcomes aren't limited to the most selective programs.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Georgetown graduates borrow $15,500 and face just a 2.0% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Even including family debt, Georgetown maintains a 7.2% burden, meaning loan payments take a minimal bite out of post-grad income.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Georgetown UniversityPrivate | $126,672 | 202 | $15,500 | Excellent | $33,944 | Excellent |
| #2 | $113,839 | 287 | $19,500 | Excellent | $40,025 | Good | |
| #3 | Wake Forest UniversityPrivate | $113,398 | 108 | $21,500 | Excellent | $30,000 | Good |
| #4 | George Washington UniversityPrivate | $101,012 | 153 | $20,449 | Excellent | $30,881 | Good |
| #5 | $95,994 | 411 | $20,500 | Excellent | $26,632 | Good | |
| #6 | $95,162 | 379 | $19,000 | Excellent | $35,200 | Good | |
| #7 | James Madison UniversityPublic | $94,451 | 163 | $20,093 | Excellent | $37,285 | Manageable |
| #8 | $90,976 | 285 | $17,804 | Excellent | $32,258 | Good | |
| #9 | Texas Christian UniversityPrivate | $90,933 | 174 | $21,500 | Excellent | $54,925 | Manageable |
| #10 | University Of MiamiPrivate | $89,692 | 259 | $17,500 | Excellent | $37,267 | Manageable |
| #11 | $89,537 | 286 | $20,500 | Excellent | $33,574 | Manageable | |
| #12 | $87,663 | 35 | $26,000 | Excellent | $50,215 | Manageable | |
| #13 | Elon UniversityPrivate | $87,590 | 178 | $20,500 | Excellent | $46,609 | Manageable |
| #14 | Baylor UniversityPrivate | $86,622 | 158 | $23,000 | Excellent | $50,786 | Manageable |
| #15 | Trinity UniversityPrivate | $86,204 | 29 | $22,954 | Excellent | $19,986 | Good |
| #16 | American UniversityPrivate | $86,053 | 64 | $22,750 | Excellent | $39,169 | Manageable |
| #17 | $85,837 | 291 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,325 | Manageable | |
| #18 | University Of DelawarePublic | $83,952 | 289 | $24,572 | Excellent | $43,000 | Manageable |
| #19 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $83,906 | 192 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,142 | Good |
| #20 | University Of FloridaPublic | $83,279 | 277 | $15,000 | Excellent | $18,837 | Good |
| #21 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | $83,160 | 204 | $21,500 | Excellent | $23,443 | Good |
| #22 | College Of CharlestonPublic | $82,260 | 83 | $23,250 | Excellent | $35,971 | Manageable |
| #23 | University Of GeorgiaPublic | $81,652 | 608 | $18,500 | Excellent | $20,855 | Good |
| #24 | Howard UniversityPrivate | $81,023 | 42 | $24,500 | Excellent | $58,682 | Challenging |
| #25 | $79,318 | 536 | $21,500 | Excellent | $31,393 | 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 →
