Public Administration and Social Service, General at Schenectady County Community College

Graduates from the Public Administration and Social Service program at Schenectady County Community College can expect a steady earnings trajectory. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $34,433, increasing to $41,662 after five years and reaching $49,513 by the ten-year mark. However, when considering the purchasing power-adjusted salary for the five-year period, the national equivalent is approximately $31,562.12, which reflects the impact of the cost of living in New York, where the cost-of-living index is 1.32 compared to the national average of 1.0.

The program's graduates predominantly enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sector, which accounts for 33.9% of employment, followed by a significant 17.6% in the same sector and 13.4% in Public Administration. The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 21.3 years, indicating a long-term return on investment. While the initial earnings may be modest relative to the cost of living, the potential for growth in earnings and the stability of the industries entered suggest a reasonable ROI for those pursuing this path.