Best Public Administration Programs in California (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 7 Public Administration programs in California by median earnings of Public Administration graduates four years after completing, highest first. California State University-Northridge leads the list with median earnings of $85,789 four years after completing.
Across the listed schools, the figures range from $85,789 to $54,714, with a median of $68,008. For 1 of the 7 programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 5 of the 7 schools, alongside 2 private nonprofit programs. California State University-Fullerton ranks 6th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and also posts the lowest average net price on the page at $6,555.
California State University-Northridge reports the highest admission rate, admitting 93% of applicants.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $85,789 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
| California State University-Northridge reports median earnings of $85,789 for its Public Administration graduates four years after completing, the highest on this list. | |||||
| 2 | California Baptist University · Riverside, CA | $75,949 | $26,285 | $22,298 | 84.9% |
| A private nonprofit university in Riverside, California Baptist University shows an average net price of $26,285 and median earnings of $75,949 for its Public Administration graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, CA | $68,497 | $6,555 | $3,315 | 90.5% |
| California State University-Fullerton carries the lowest average net price on the page at $6,555 and its Public Administration graduates earn a median of $68,497 four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | California State University-Dominguez Hills · Carson, CA | $68,008 | $8,615 | $7,303 | 93.3% |
| With a cohort of 38 graduates, California State University-Dominguez Hills posts median earnings of $68,008 for its Public Administration graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | University of La Verne · La Verne, CA | $60,094 | $20,161 | $20,151 | 71.2% |
| University of La Verne admits 71% of applicants and reports median earnings of $60,094 for its Public Administration graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 6 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $57,264 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
| San Diego State University is the most selective school on the list, admitting 36% of applicants, and its Public Administration graduates earn a median of $57,264 four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | California State University-Chico · Chico, CA | $54,714 | $14,480 | $9,902 | 92.7% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left California State University-Chico with a median of $16,552 in federal loans, and its Public Administration completers earn a median of $54,714 four years after completing. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Public Administration graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in California appear. The figure covers federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled. For 1 of the 7 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The gap between California State University-Northridge and California Baptist University is $9,840, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $31,075.
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