Compare 49 Public Administration. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $59,285. Top programs: $97,702+.
With top graduates earning $76,049, Public Administration stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $24K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
California State University-Northridge's Public Administration program leads with graduates earning $76,049, well above the $52K average across all programs. West Texas A&M follows at $73,471, while George Mason reaches $69,760—demonstrating that regional publics compete strongly in this field.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Cal State Northridge graduates borrow $13,872 and face just a 3.6% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income.
Highest program earnings: $76,049
Strong outcomes with 93% acceptance
3.6% payment burden | Excellent
7.5% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Barry UniversityPrivate | $97,702 | 39 | $26,997 | Excellent | $14,569 | Excellent |
| #2 | Syracuse UniversityPrivate | $89,732 | 85 | $26,000 | Excellent | $39,841 | Manageable |
| #3 | $85,789 | 27 | $13,872 | Excellent | $13,522 | Excellent | |
| #4 | $77,422 | 448 | $19,509 | Excellent | $32,850 | Manageable | |
| #5 | $75,949 | 14 | $26,063 | Excellent | $31,387 | Manageable | |
| #6 | James Madison UniversityPublic | $71,626 | 48 | $20,093 | Excellent | $37,285 | Manageable |
| #7 | Upper Iowa UniversityPrivate | $70,374 | 23 | $25,000 | Excellent | $14,000 | Good |
| #8 | $70,331 | 90 | $21,868 | Excellent | $18,241 | Manageable | |
| #9 | Flagler CollegePrivate | $70,202 | 20 | $24,250 | Excellent | $29,390 | Manageable |
| #10 | $69,033 | 38 | $11,512 | Excellent | $20,000 | Good | |
| #11 | $68,497 | 36 | $13,750 | Excellent | $16,538 | Good | |
| #12 | $68,008 | 38 | $13,807 | Excellent | $11,061 | Good | |
| #13 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $67,973 | 34 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,142 | Manageable |
| #14 | University Of OregonPublic | $67,030 | 69 | $20,139 | Excellent | $44,405 | Challenging |
| #15 | $66,834 | 43 | $11,000 | Excellent | $16,130 | Good | |
| #16 | Wayne State UniversityPublic | $66,396 | 6 | $21,250 | Excellent | $16,378 | Manageable |
| #17 | Auburn UniversityPublic | $66,141 | 16 | $21,000 | Excellent | $43,605 | Challenging |
| #18 | University Of ArizonaPublic | $64,953 | 24 | $19,620 | Excellent | $30,126 | Manageable |
| #19 | $62,424 | 102 | $16,500 | Excellent | $13,610 | Good | |
| #20 | $60,678 | 95 | $19,976 | Excellent | $25,868 | Manageable | |
| #21 | $60,564 | 64 | $20,000 | Excellent | $17,205 | Manageable | |
| #22 | $60,383 | 8 | $23,188 | Good | $18,635 | Manageable | |
| #23 | University Of La VernePrivate | $60,094 | 29 | $23,500 | Good | $27,977 | Challenging |
| #24 | $60,079 | 14 | $22,500 | Good | $16,958 | Manageable | |
| #25 | Texas State UniversityPublic | $59,074 | 30 | $21,000 | Excellent | $22,500 | Manageable |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
