by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 432 U.S. colleges awarded 13,735 degrees and certificates in Public Administration. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 80% of graduates. College Factual ranks 270 schools in its 2027 Best Public Administration Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $60,822 one year after completing, rising to $77,875 after four years.
Studying Public Administration covers Public Administration. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Serve As Managers In The Executive Arm Of Local, State, And Federal Government And That Focuses On The Systematic Study Of Executive Organization And Management. Includes Instruction In The Roles, Development, And Principles Of Public Administration; The Management Of Public Policy; Executive-Legislative Relations; Public Budgetary Processes And Financial Management; Administrative Law; Public Personnel Management; Professional Ethics; And Research Methods.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, public administration draws strong interest, with 13,735 degrees awarded annually. 432 colleges award public administration degrees, an average of 32 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 600.
By level, the 13,735 awards include 33 certificates, 104 associate degrees, 2,270 bachelor’s degrees, 10,935 master’s degrees and 393 doctorates.
Women earned 58% of public administration degrees and certificates in the latest year (7,979 of 13,735). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (5,944) and Black or African American (2,320), and international students earned 1,304.
College Factual ranks 270 schools in its 2027 Best Public Administration Schools ranking, including 2 for associate degrees, 49 for bachelor’s degrees, 252 for master’s degrees and 9 for doctorates. It also ranks public administration schools within 47 states. In all, 432 colleges offer public administration programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Public Administration Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common public administration credential is the master’s degree: 10,935 of the 13,735 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to public administration call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Speaking, and for knowledge of Administration and Management, English Language and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a public administration degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 33 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 104 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,270 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 10,935 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 393 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to public administration, at 46.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 46.8% |
| Master’s degree | 26.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.4% |
| Some college courses | 3.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
15 occupations are related to Public Administration, with an average median salary of $123,131; the strongest outlook belongs to Social and Community Service Managers, at 13.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Program Manager, Telegraph Office Manager, Distribution Superintendent and Station Manager.
The occupation related to public administration with the most projected jobs is Managers, All Other, at 468,025.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Chief Sustainability Officers | 440,982 | 0.5% |
| Supply Chain Managers | 421,849 | 12.7% |
| Chief Executives | 374,558 | -2.8% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | 227,314 | 11.6% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
Public Administration graduates earn a median $60,822 one year after completing their program, $77,875 after four years and $74,222 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $60,822 |
| 4 years | $77,875 |
| 5 years | $74,222 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to public administration is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Legislators | $167,600 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $156,089 |
| General and Operations Managers | $149,694 |
| Chief Executives | $138,534 |
| Supply Chain Managers | $138,103 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
Public Administration has 3 similar majors in the Public & Social Service field, which together award 144 degrees a year; the largest are Public Administration, Other (76), Public Works Management (35) and Transportation and Infrastructure Planning/Studies (33). Browse all Public & Social Service majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Administration, Other | 76 |
| Public Works Management | 35 |
| Transportation and Infrastructure Planning/Studies | 33 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
