Best Public Administration Colleges in Alabama (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 10 Public Administration programs in Alabama by median earnings of Public Administration graduates four years after completing. Auburn University ranks 1st on this list, reporting $55,969 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed schools, the figure ranges from $55,969 to $37,853, with a median of $46,274.
All 10 schools are 10 public institutions. The University of Alabama ranks 233rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the best on this page. University of North Alabama posts the lowest average net price at $12,170.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Public Administration Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auburn University · Auburn, AL | $55,969 | $24,323 | $16,681 | 45.9% |
| Auburn University reports $55,969 in median earnings of Public Administration graduates four years after completing and admits 46% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (28 graduates), Public Administration (16 graduates) | |||||
| 2 | The University of Alabama · Tuscaloosa, AL | $49,561 | $22,420 | $19,169 | 76.7% |
| The University of Alabama ranks 2nd on this list, with a six-year completion rate of 73%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (75 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($49,561) | |||||
| 3 | University of Alabama at Birmingham · Birmingham, AL | $47,791 | $18,749 | $16,172 | 88.2% |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham carries an average net price of $18,749 and graduates 64% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (50 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($47,791) | |||||
| 4 | Alabama A & M University · Normal, AL | $47,121 | $17,621 | $16,500 | 58.0% |
| Alabama A & M University ranks 314th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports $47,121 in median earnings of Public Administration graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (22 graduates) | |||||
| 5 | University of South Alabama · Mobile, AL | $46,667 | $17,648 | $12,657 | 71.0% |
| University of South Alabama posts an average net price of $12,657 for families earning under $30,000 and a six-year completion rate of 53%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (30 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($46,667) | |||||
| 6 | Jacksonville State University · Jacksonville, AL | $45,882 | $14,279 | $12,472 | 77.7% |
| Jacksonville State University admits 78% of applicants and reports $45,882 in median earnings of Public Administration graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (44 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($45,882) | |||||
| 7 | Troy University · Troy, AL | $45,789 | $16,527 | $12,656 | 96.0% |
| Troy University ranks 7th on this list, with an average net price of $16,527. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (139 graduates), Human Services, General (81 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($45,789) | |||||
| 8 | Alabama State University · Montgomery, AL | $43,661 | $20,435 | $19,711 | 97.6% |
| Alabama State University graduates 30% of its students within six years and reports $43,661 in median earnings of Public Administration graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (21 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($43,661) | |||||
| 9 | University of Montevallo · Montevallo, AL | $43,388 | $17,683 | $14,471 | 53.9% |
| University of Montevallo carries an average net price of $14,471 for families earning under $30,000 and admits 54% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (17 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($43,388) | |||||
| 10 | University of North Alabama · Florence, AL | $37,853 | $12,170 | $9,741 | 87.3% |
| At 10th on this list, University of North Alabama reports $37,853 in median earnings of Public Administration graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (39 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($37,853) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Public Administration graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Public Administration earnings cohort in Alabama appear. The figure is the median for federally aided Public Administration completers who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. It does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost of attendance, or the characteristics of the students who enroll, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The spread from Auburn University to the lowest-ranked school is $18,116, and the gap between Auburn University and The University of Alabama is $6,408.
Job market context in Alabama
Graduates of Public Administration programs in Alabama enter a labor market that links to occupations such as Child, Family, and School Social Workers, Social and Human Service Assistants, and Healthcare Social Workers. The median annual wage across those occupations is $59,030, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $45,825. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 9.9% higher, with about 1,291 openings a year for every hundred graduates, more projected openings than graduates. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses the median earnings of Public Administration graduates four years after completing of each listed school; the market figures describe the broader set of linked occupations and are not the same measure.