Best Value Public Administration Colleges in California

California State University-Dominguez Hills delivers the state's most affordable Public Administration program at just $3,659 net cost, while National University graduates command the highest salaries at $74,576 annually. This dramatic earnings gap of over $40,000 reflects California's complex government market, from Silicon Valley tech regulation to aerospace contract oversight. The state's 14 programs span costs from under $4,000 to nearly $40,000, creating distinct pathways into California's massive public sector that employs over 2.5 million workers across federal, state, and local agencies managing the world's fifth-largest economy.

Programs

$3,659 – $39,495

Net Price Range

$49,346

Avg. Program Earnings

57.5%

Avg. Graduation Rate

14 Public Administration Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	California State University-Dominguez Hills Carson, California	$3,659	$43,240	$7,064	46.9%	89.1%
2	California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, California	$5,646	$42,682	$7,073	69.2%	66.7%
3	California State University-San Bernardino San Bernardino, California	$5,918	$36,848	$7,675	54.7%	91.1%
4	California State University-Bakersfield Bakersfield, California	$5,825	$33,993	$7,696	49.3%	86.6%
5	California Baptist University Riverside, California	$27,384	$69,338	$39,720	59.5%	79.9%
6	National University San Diego, California	$31,058	$74,576	$13,320	50.0%
7	University of La Verne La Verne, California	$26,925	$60,094	$47,000	65.4%	73.5%
8	San Diego State University San Diego, California	$16,174	$33,993	$8,290	78.3%	39.3%
9	California State University-Chico Chico, California	$14,838		$8,064	63.6%	95.0%
10	California State University-Fresno Fresno, California	$6,480		$6,980	54.8%	95.4%
11	California State University-Northridge Northridge, California	$7,599		$7,095	56.2%	91.2%
12	University of California-Riverside Riverside, California	$13,707		$14,170	76.6%	68.7%
13	University of San Francisco San Francisco, California	$39,495		$58,222	71.1%	71.2%
14	Ashford University San Diego, California	$25,321		$13,160	8.8%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $70,000 cost difference between the cheapest and most expensive programs?

CSU-Dominguez Hills costs $3,659 while University of San Francisco reaches $39,495, primarily due to public versus private funding models. California State Universities receive state subsidies that dramatically reduce student costs, while private institutions rely on tuition revenue.

How do graduation rates vary across different price points?

San Diego State University achieves a 78.30% graduation rate despite moderate costs, while some expensive private options like Ashford University show only 8.80% completion. CSU-Fullerton combines affordability at $5,646 with strong 69.20% graduation rates.

Does higher program cost translate to better career earnings?

National University graduates earn $74,576 annually from a $31,058 program, while CSU-Bakersfield graduates make $33,993 from a $5,825 investment. The return varies significantly based on program focus and regional job markets.

Where do California's Public Administration graduates typically find employment?

California's government sector spans from tech regulation in Silicon Valley to aerospace oversight in Southern California, plus traditional roles in the state's 482 cities and 58 counties. Federal agencies like NASA and military installations provide additional career paths.

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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.