by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, public administration was the 49th most popular major nationwide with 16,897 degrees awarded. This 372 less than the prior year, a decrease of 2.2%.
This year's Best Public Administration Schools ranking compares 283 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of public admin programs later in this article.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most public admin degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific public admin careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of public admin degrees. You can spend many years getting as high as a in public administration to something that takes less time like a . How long it takes to complete some common public admin degree levels is shown below.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
Want a job when you graduate with your public admin degree? Public Administration careers are expected to grow 7.9% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to public administration.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | 2,468,300 | 9.1% |
| Managers | 1,071,700 | 8.0% |
| Chief Executives | 296,800 | -3.9% |
| Social and Community Service Managers | 173,800 | 18.0% |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | 123,300 | 6.8% |
As you might expect, salaries for public admin graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for public administration graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers public admin grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Chief Executives | $200,140 |
| General and Operations Managers | $123,880 |
| Managers | $115,590 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $102,850 |
| Postmasters and Mail Superintendents | $77,040 |
With over 815 different public admin degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased public admin school rankings to help you with this.
Learn about other programs related to Public Administration that might interest you.
BS in Business Administration - Public Administration
Prepare yourself to make the decisions that best serve a community, its constituents and its economic growth with this specialized business degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Fit new strategic skills into your public service passion and goals when you earn an MBA in Public Administration from Southern New Hampshire University.
Public Administration is one of 1 different types of Public Administration programs to choose from.
