Public Administration Colleges Under $20,000

St Petersburg College breaks the affordability barrier with a net price of negative $52, essentially paying students to attend their Public Administration program. This extraordinary value stands in sharp contrast to the $8,001 ceiling found elsewhere among budget-conscious options nationwide. Federal agencies across the country actively recruit Public Administration graduates for positions ranging from policy analysis to program management, with starting salaries reflecting regional cost variations. California State University campuses dominate the affordable market, offering programs between $5,646 and $6,480 while maintaining strong graduation rates above 50%. The earnings potential spans from $27,669 to $43,240, with California State University-Dominguez Hills graduates commanding the highest salaries at $43,240 annually. CUNY schools provide strong value in the competitive New York market, where Baruch College achieves a 72% graduation rate at just $2,978 net cost.

Programs

$-52 – $12,878

Net Price Range

$37,335

Avg. Program Earnings

46.1%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Public Administration Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	St Petersburg College St. Petersburg, Florida	$-52	$2,682	37.5%
2	CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, New York	$2,978	$7,464	72.1%	49.5%
3	CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, New York	$3,046	$7,470	55.5%	50.7%
4	California State University-Dominguez Hills Carson, California	$3,659	$7,064	46.9%	89.1%
5	Universidad Central de Bayamon Bayamón, Puerto Rico	$4,285	$5,986	37.9%	80.4%
6	Indian River State College Fort Pierce, Florida	$5,202	$2,764	42.5%
7	Texas Southmost College Brownsville, Texas	$5,458	$3,148	26.8%
8	California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, California	$5,646	$7,073	69.2%	66.7%
9	California State University-Bakersfield Bakersfield, California	$5,825	$7,696	49.3%	86.6%
10	CUNY Medgar Evers College Brooklyn, New York	$5,881	$7,352	22.3%	87.7%
11	California State University-San Bernardino San Bernardino, California	$5,918	$7,675	54.7%	91.1%
12	Indiana University-Northwest Gary, Indiana	$5,970	$8,179	36.9%	80.3%
13	Indiana University-Kokomo Kokomo, Indiana	$6,276	$8,179	44.7%	85.8%
14	California State University-Fresno Fresno, California	$6,480	$6,980	54.8%	95.4%
15	The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, Texas	$6,500	$9,859	49.3%	87.7%
16	Brigham Young University-Idaho Rexburg, Idaho	$7,131	$4,656	55.1%	95.6%
17	Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, North Carolina	$7,360	$3,969	35.2%	81.2%
18	California State University-Northridge Northridge, California	$7,599	$7,095	56.2%	91.2%
19	Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus Gurabo, Puerto Rico	$7,668	$6,920	30.2%
20	Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Florida	$8,001	$4,879	64.3%	81.3%
21	Rust College Holly Springs, Mississippi	$8,751	$13,840	27.0%	78.8%
22	Kentucky State University Frankfort, Kentucky	$8,900	$9,214	27.1%	91.5%
23	University of Illinois Springfield Springfield, Illinois	$8,916	$12,252	61.4%	82.0%
24	Salish Kootenai College Pablo, Montana	$9,002	$4,311	35.2%
25	Murray State University Murray, Kentucky	$9,121	$9,708	59.5%	84.0%
26	Florida International University Miami, Florida	$9,133	$6,565	73.9%	63.9%
27	University of Guam Mangilao, Guam	$9,424	$6,110	42.1%
28	University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada	$10,011	$9,142	50.1%	85.3%
29	Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce Ponce, Puerto Rico	$10,082	$6,340	47.9%	94.7%
30	College of Menominee Nation Keshena, Wisconsin	$10,498	$6,200	27.5%
31	University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida	$10,650	$6,368	75.1%	41.0%
32	University of Hawaii-West Oahu Kapolei, Hawaii	$10,666	$7,584	46.8%	96.4%
33	University of Maine at Fort Kent Fort Kent, Maine	$10,865	$9,045	39.8%	99.2%
34	Rhode Island College Providence, Rhode Island	$10,988	$10,986	46.2%	87.5%
35	Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida	$10,997	$5,656	83.0%	25.0%
36	University of Houston-Clear Lake Houston, Texas	$11,056	$7,746	50.9%	69.4%
37	Arkansas Baptist College Little Rock, Arkansas	$11,139	$8,760	8.0%
38	The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, Texas	$11,234	$8,991	51.2%	86.9%
39	University of Maine at Augusta Augusta, Maine	$11,353	$8,618	23.3%
40	Indiana University-Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana	$11,408	$10,449	53.9%	82.9%
41	Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana	$11,513	$9,254	32.5%	80.7%
42	Mississippi Valley State University Itta Bena, Mississippi	$11,812	$7,912	22.1%	64.8%
43	Youngstown State University Youngstown, Ohio	$11,877	$10,791	52.9%	80.6%
44	Kean University Union, New Jersey	$12,168	$13,426	43.4%	82.6%
45	Purdue University Global West Lafayette, Indiana	$12,267	$10,110	47.6%
46	University of Michigan-Flint Flint, Michigan	$12,280	$14,014	44.6%	66.4%
47	University of Missouri-St Louis Saint Louis, Missouri	$12,323	$13,440	56.9%	51.1%
48	Lincoln University Jefferson City, Missouri	$12,484	$9,290	22.1%
49	Western Carolina University Cullowhee, North Carolina	$12,579	$4,532	59.1%	84.8%
50	University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Green Bay, Wisconsin	$12,878	$8,342	53.1%	89.6%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes St Petersburg College's Public Administration program cost negative $52?

St Petersburg College's net price of negative $52 means students receive more in financial aid than the total cost of attendance. This typically occurs when federal and state grants, combined with institutional aid, exceed tuition and fees. However, the program shows a 37.5% graduation rate and $24,619 in average debt, suggesting students may need additional time or loans to complete their studies.

How do California State University campuses compare for Public Administration affordability?

Five CSU campuses offer Public Administration programs under $7,000 net cost, with Dominguez Hills leading in earnings at $43,240 annually. Fullerton provides the best balance with a $5,646 net price, 69.2% graduation rate, and $42,682 in earnings. San Bernardino and Bakersfield offer similar value propositions between $5,825 and $5,918 net cost.

Is CUNY a good choice for Public Administration in New York?

CUNY schools offer strong value with three programs under $6,000 net cost in New York City. Baruch College leads with a 72.1% graduation rate and $33,138 earnings at $2,978 net cost. John Jay College specializes in criminal justice administration, achieving $40,481 in graduate earnings with a 55.5% completion rate.

Does graduation rate correlate with program cost in Public Administration?

Higher-priced programs generally show better graduation rates, with California State University-Fullerton achieving 69.2% at $5,646 net cost. The lowest-cost option, St Petersburg College at negative $52, has only a 37.5% graduation rate. Mid-range programs between $5,000-$6,500 typically maintain graduation rates above 45%.

Where do Public Administration graduates earn the most among affordable programs?

California State University-Dominguez Hills graduates earn $43,240, the highest among programs under $20,000. John Jay College follows at $40,481, while CSU-Fullerton graduates earn $42,682. These three schools represent the top earning potential while maintaining net costs between $3,046 and $5,646.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.