by our College Data Analytics Team
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 16,897 people earned their degree in public administration, making the major the 49th most popular in the United States.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major” ranking looked at 472 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in public administration. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in public administration.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
The public admin school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major”.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major”.
Out of the 472 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major that were part of this year’s ranking, College of Menominee Nation landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Keshena, Wisconsin, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 7 degrees to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Public Administration at College of Menominee Nation
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Calumet College of Saint Joseph. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major. This small school is located in Whiting, Indiana, and it awarded 39 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Anna Maria College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major list. Anna Maria College is a small school located in Paxton, Massachusetts that handed out 99 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Hawaii - West Oahu. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major. UH West Oahu is a small public school situated in Kapolei, Hawaii. It awarded 139 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Administration at University of Hawaii - West Oahu
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Barry University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major list. This medium-sized school is located in Miami, Florida, and it awarded 195 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #6, The Evergreen State College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major list. The Evergreen State College is a small public school situated in Olympia, Washington. It awarded 56 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #7, University of Guam did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major list. Mangilao, is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 50 students in 2020-2021.
Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major list. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 757 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
John Jay College of Criminal Justice came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking. John Jay is a public institution located in New York, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 280 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Administration at John Jay College of Criminal Justice
University of Baltimore landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, this small public school awarded 72 degrees to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #11, Strayer University - Arkansas did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major list. Located in Little Rock, Arkansas, this small private for-profit school awarded 2 degrees to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Public Administration at Strayer University - Arkansas
With a ranking of #12, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major list. Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey is located in Monterey, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 1 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey Public Administration Report
University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking, coming in at #13. University of Illinois at Springfield is a public institution located in Springfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 71 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Alfred University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking. Located in Alfred, New York, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 30 degrees to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
Hilbert College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking. Hamburg, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Administration at Hilbert College
University of Alaska Southeast did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking, coming in at #16. University of Alaska Southeast is a small public school situated in Juneau, Alaska. It awarded 29 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full University of Alaska Southeast Public Administration Report
Metropolitan College of New York did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking, coming in at #17. New York, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Marist College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking, coming in at #18. Marist is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Poughkeepsie, New York. It awarded 83 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
Strayer University - North Carolina ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major list. Morrisville, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 29 students in 2020-2021.
Full Strayer University - North Carolina Public Administration Report
Flagler College - St Augustine ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major list. Saint Augustine, Florida is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 34 students in 2020-2021.
Full Flagler College - St Augustine Public Administration Report
Clark University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking. Clark is a private not-for-profit institution located in Worcester, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 56 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Virginia International University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking. Fairfax, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Public Administration at Virginia International University
Notre Dame de Namur University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking, coming in at #23. This small school is located in Belmont, California, and it awarded 18 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Notre Dame de Namur University Public Administration Report
Hawaii Pacific University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Honolulu, Hawaii, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 31 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Public Administration at Hawaii Pacific University
With a ranking of #25, Southern University and A & M College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Admin Major list. Southern University and A & M College is a medium-sized school located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that handed out 47 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Public Administration at Southern University and A & M College
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Columbia University in the City of New York | New York, NY |
| 52 | Park University | Parkville, MO |
| 53 | Belhaven University | Jackson, MS |
| 54 | Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus | Teaneck, NJ |
| 55 | California State University - Northridge | Northridge, CA |
| 56 | Medgar Evers College | Brooklyn, NY |
| 57 | Kentucky State University | Frankfort, KY |
| 58 | West Virginia State University | Institute, WV |
| 59 | Arkansas State University - Main Campus | Jonesboro, AR |
| 60 | Walden University | Minneapolis, MN |
| 61 | University of La Verne | La Verne, CA |
| 62 | Strayer University - South Carolina | Greenville, SC |
| 63 | Norwich University | Northfield, VT |
| 64 | University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA |
| 65 | Savannah State University | Savannah, GA |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | Southern University at New Orleans | New Orleans, LA |
| 67 | Franklin University | Columbus, OH |
| 68 | Kean University | Union, NJ |
| 69 | Drake University | Des Moines, IA |
| 70 | Touro University Worldwide | Los Alamitos, CA |
| 71 | South University, Columbia | Columbia, SC |
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
