Best Colleges for Public Administration

Public administration graduates earn an average of $41,660 annually, with strong job security in government agencies, nonprofits, and public service organizations. Students should prioritize programs with established internship networks, faculty with real-world government experience, and coursework covering policy analysis, public finance, and organizational management. Look for schools offering concentrations in areas like healthcare administration, environmental policy, or urban planning to match your career interests. Strong alumni connections within government agencies can provide valuable networking opportunities. With 51 schools offering this major, students have numerous options to find programs that align with their public service goals and provide practical, hands-on learning experiences in policy implementation and civic leadership.

Schools Ranked

$49,399

Avg. Program Earnings

60.2%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	National University San Diego, California	$74,576	50.0%	private-nonprofit
2	California Baptist University Riverside, California	$69,338	59.5%	private-nonprofit
3	West Texas A & M University Canyon, Texas	$69,338	47.3%	public
4	Upper Iowa University Fayette, Iowa	$61,516	41.5%	private-nonprofit
5	Colorado State University Global Aurora, Colorado	$61,020		public
6	University of La Verne La Verne, California	$60,094	65.4%	private-nonprofit
7	Barry University Miami, Florida	$58,673	36.6%	private-nonprofit
8	University of Phoenix-Arizona Phoenix, Arizona	$54,494	19.5%	private-forprofit
9	Western Carolina University Cullowhee, North Carolina	$52,107	59.1%	public
10	George Mason University Fairfax, Virginia	$48,823	69.3%	public
11	Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, Indiana	$45,034	81.2%	public
12	California State University-Dominguez Hills Carson, California	$43,240	46.9%	public
13	Walden University Minneapolis, Minnesota	$42,728		private-forprofit
14	California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, California	$42,682	69.2%	public
15	Miami University-Oxford Oxford, Ohio	$41,992	81.8%	public
16	Syracuse University Syracuse, New York	$41,937	81.4%	private-nonprofit
17	University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada	$41,205	50.1%	public
18	Florida International University Miami, Florida	$41,193	73.9%	public
19	Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Shippensburg, Pennsylvania	$41,025	51.6%	public
20	Flagler College Saint Augustine, Florida	$41,007	55.9%	private-nonprofit
21	University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, Iowa	$40,896	68.9%	public
22	University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas	$40,647	68.8%	public
23	Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, Louisiana	$40,641	71.0%	public
24	CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, New York	$40,481	55.5%	public
25	James Madison University Harrisonburg, Virginia	$40,281	80.9%	public