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# Public Administration Programs in the United States (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Part of [Public Administration Colleges in the United States](/rankings/best-public-administration-colleges/)

This page ranks the 44 Public Administration programs in the United States by the median earnings of Public Administration graduates four years after completing. [Barry University](/school/barry-university/majors/) ranks 1st on this list, reporting median earnings of $97,702 for its graduates four years after completing.

[Syracuse University](/school/syracuse-university/majors/) follows at 2nd with $89,732, and [California State University-Northridge](/school/california-state-university-northridge/majors/) places 3rd at $85,789. Across the listed programs, the median earnings figure is $60,238, with a range from $97,702 to $31,127.

For 7 of the 44 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

Public institutions account for 38 of the 44 programs, or 86% of the list. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College posts the lowest average net price at $3,033, and Upper Iowa University holds the highest admission rate at 96%.

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College ranks 2nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

## The ranked list

Top 25 of 44 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Barry University · Miami, FL | $97,702 | $22,613 | $20,804 | 77.2% |
|  | [Barry University](/school/barry-university/majors/) ranks 1st on this list, with [median earnings of $97,702](/school/barry-university/outcomes/) for its Public Administration graduates four years after completing. |
| 2 | Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY | $89,732 | $38,793 | $15,817 | 45.9% |
|  | [Syracuse University](/school/syracuse-university/majors/) reports an [average net price of $38,793](/school/syracuse-university/cost/) and median earnings of $89,732 for its Public Administration graduates four years after completing. |
| 3 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $85,789 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
|  | [California State University-Northridge](/school/california-state-university-northridge/majors/), a public university in Northridge, [admits 93% of applicants](/school/california-state-university-northridge/admissions/) and posts median earnings of $85,789 for its Public Administration graduates four years after completing. |
| 4 | Indiana University-Bloomington · Bloomington, IN | $77,422 | $16,264 | $6,324 | 78.2% |
|  | [Indiana University-Bloomington](/school/indiana-university-bloomington/majors/) [ranks 96th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/indiana-university-bloomington/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Public Administration graduates four years after completing earn a median of $77,422. |
| 5 | California Baptist University · Riverside, CA | $75,949 | $26,285 | $22,298 | 84.9% |
|  | [California Baptist University](/school/california-baptist-university/majors/) reports [median federal debt of $36,707](/school/california-baptist-university/cost/) among Public Administration completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $75,949 four years after completing. |
| 6 | James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA | $71,626 | $23,322 | $11,444 | 71.5% |
|  | [James Madison University](/school/james-madison-university/majors/) ranks 6th on this list, with an [average net price of $23,322](/school/james-madison-university/cost/) and a median of $71,626 for its Public Administration graduates four years after completing. |
| 7 | Upper Iowa University · Fayette, IA | $70,374 | $20,942 | $17,715 | 96.5% |
|  | Upper Iowa University admits 96% of applicants and reports median federal debt of $25,000 among Public Administration completers who borrowed. |
| 8 | Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC | $70,331 | $13,315 | $8,816 | 81.8% |
|  | [Western Carolina University](/school/western-carolina-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $70,331](/school/western-carolina-university/outcomes/) for its Public Administration graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 90 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 9 | Flagler College · Saint Augustine, FL | $70,202 | $30,525 | $21,733 | 80.8% |
|  | [Flagler College](/school/flagler-college/majors/) [ranks 1346th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/flagler-college/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Public Administration graduates four years after completing earn a median of $70,202. |
| 10 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College · New York, NY | $69,033 | $3,033 | $607 | 47.5% |
|  | [CUNY Bernard M Baruch College](/school/cuny-bernard-m-baruch-college/majors/) reports an [average net price of $3,033](/school/cuny-bernard-m-baruch-college/cost/) and median federal debt of $14,159 among Public Administration completers who borrowed. |
| 11 | California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, CA | $68,497 | $6,555 | $3,315 | 90.5% |
|  | [California State University-Fullerton](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/majors/), a public university in Fullerton, reports [median earnings of $68,497](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/outcomes/) for its Public Administration graduates four years after completing. |
| 12 | California State University-Dominguez Hills · Carson, CA | $68,008 | $8,615 | $7,303 | 93.3% |
|  | Median earnings of $68,008 four years after completing coincide with an [admission rate of 93%](/school/california-state-university-dominguez-hills/admissions/) at [California State University-Dominguez Hills](/school/california-state-university-dominguez-hills/majors/). |
| 13 | George Mason University · Fairfax, VA | $67,973 | $17,915 | $11,942 | 87.5% |
|  | [George Mason University](/school/george-mason-university/majors/) reports [$67,973 in median earnings](/school/george-mason-university/outcomes/) for its Public Administration graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $17,915. |
| 14 | University of Oregon · Eugene, OR | $67,030 | $22,182 | $15,909 | 88.3% |
|  | [University of Oregon](/school/university-of-oregon/majors/) [admits 88% of applicants](/school/university-of-oregon/admissions/) and its Public Administration completers who borrowed left with a median of $15,795 in federal loans. |
| 15 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice · New York, NY | $66,834 | $3,203 | $1,073 | 57.1% |
|  | [CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice](/school/cuny-john-jay-college-of-criminal-justice/majors/) [ranks 37th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/cuny-john-jay-college-of-criminal-justice/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Public Administration graduates earned a median of $66,834 four years after completing. |
| 16 | Wayne State University · Detroit, MI | $66,396 | $12,766 | $11,090 | 81.2% |
|  | [Wayne State University](/school/wayne-state-university/majors/) posts an [average net price of $11,090](/school/wayne-state-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000, with a Public Administration earnings cohort of 6 graduates. |
| 17 | Auburn University · Auburn, AL | $66,141 | $24,323 | $16,681 | 45.9% |
|  | [Auburn University](/school/auburn-university/majors/) shows a [median of $66,141](/school/auburn-university/outcomes/) for its Public Administration graduates four years after completing, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $21,000 in federal loans. |
| 18 | University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ | $64,953 | $16,674 | $13,353 | 86.1% |
|  | [University of Arizona](/school/university-of-arizona/majors/) ranks 18th on this list and reports an [average net price of $16,674](/school/university-of-arizona/cost/) for all family-income levels. |
| 19 | Florida International University · Miami, FL | $62,424 | $9,288 | $7,003 | 54.7% |
|  | [Florida International University](/school/florida-international-university/majors/) reports [$62,424 in median earnings](/school/florida-international-university/outcomes/) for its Public Administration graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 55%. |
| 20 | Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH | $60,678 | $17,339 | $4,885 | 60.6% |
|  | [Ohio State University-Main Campus](/school/ohio-state-university-main-campus/majors/) [ranks 90th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/ohio-state-university-main-campus/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Public Administration completers who borrowed left with a median of $20,500 in federal loans. |
| 21 | Indiana University-Indianapolis · Indianapolis, IN | $60,564 | $11,668 | $5,701 | 76.4% |
|  | [Indiana University-Indianapolis](/school/indiana-university-indianapolis/majors/) posts an [average net price of $5,701](/school/indiana-university-indianapolis/cost/) for families earning under $30,000, with a Public Administration earnings cohort of 64 graduates. |
| 22 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater · Whitewater, WI | $60,383 | $14,158 | $8,440 | 85.7% |
|  | [University of Wisconsin-Whitewater](/school/university-of-wisconsin-whitewater/majors/) reports [$60,383 in median earnings](/school/university-of-wisconsin-whitewater/outcomes/) for its Public Administration graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 86%. |
| 23 | University of La Verne · La Verne, CA | $60,094 | $20,161 | $20,151 | 71.2% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in La Verne, [University of La Verne](/school/university-of-la-verne/majors/) reports an [average net price of $20,161](/school/university-of-la-verne/cost/) and a Public Administration earnings cohort of 29 graduates. |
| 24 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse · La Crosse, WI | $60,079 | $16,210 | $8,224 | 75.5% |
|  | [University of Wisconsin-La Crosse](/school/university-of-wisconsin-la-crosse/majors/) ranks 24th on this list and its Public Administration completers who borrowed left with a [median of $18,648](/school/university-of-wisconsin-la-crosse/outcomes/) in federal loans. |
| 25 | Texas State University · San Marcos, TX | $59,074 | $16,805 | $12,715 | 89.3% |
|  | [Texas State University](/school/texas-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $59,074](/school/texas-state-university/outcomes/) for its Public Administration graduates four years after completing, with 30 graduates in the earnings cohort. |

Continue by region[Best Public Administration Programs in the Midwest](/rankings/best-public-administration-programs-in-the-midwest/)[Best Public Administration Programs in the Northeast](/rankings/best-public-administration-programs-in-the-northeast/)[Best Public Administration Programs in the South](/rankings/best-public-administration-programs-in-the-south/)

## 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 the United States appear. The figure is the median earnings of federally aided completers of the Public Administration program who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 7 of the 44 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 range from $31,127 to $97,702 and the median of $60,238 cover the schools with a published figure. Barry University leads Syracuse University by a gap of $7,970.

## Related rankings

-   [Public Administration Colleges in the United States](/rankings/best-public-administration-colleges/)
-   [Best Social Work Colleges for Social Mobility](/rankings/best-social-work-colleges-for-social-mobility/)
-   Public Administration Colleges for Social Mobility